China Targets AI, Robotics, and Innovative Drugs for Industrial Upgrade

China is strategically placing emphasis on Artificial Intelligence (AI), robotics, and innovative drugs, branding them as its "next new three" core strategic industries. This move signifies a major upgrade in the country's industrial and export model, aiming to foster new economic growth engines and contribute to global industrial development.

The initiative builds upon the success of China's "new three" export pillars – electric vehicles (EVs), lithium batteries, and photovoltaic products. The focus is now shifting towards higher value-added sectors like advanced AI applications, sophisticated robotics, and novel pharmaceuticals.

Recent data indicates strong growth potential. Domestic large AI models have seen sustained increases in usage for eight consecutive weeks, with token calls rising by over 30% month-on-month. In the first half of the year, China's robotics exports reached $929 million, with surgical robots experiencing a threefold increase. Chinese pharmaceutical firms were involved in eight of the top ten global licensing deals in the first six months.

Experts view this transition as a move from exporting manufacturing capacity to exporting high-end innovation. Competition is increasingly centered on core technologies and research and development, strengthening China's position in global value chains. This also correlates with a significant rise in China's export of knowledge-intensive services.

Chinese companies are already showcasing their capabilities abroad. For instance, DEEP Robotics provides inspection robots for a Swiss nuclear power plant, while DoBot's robotic arms are used for automated coffee services in transit hubs worldwide. iFLYTEK's AI teaching systems are also supporting Chinese language education globally.