Opinion   China's economic vitality and future prospects are deeply rooted i...

China's economy is currently undergoing a critical period of transformation and upgrading, with scientific and technological innovation serving as the core driver for high-quality development. According to data released by the National Bureau of Statistics, China's R&D expenditure reached 3.6 trillion yuan in 2024, marking an 8.3% year-on-year increase and accounting for 2.68% of GDP. This underlines China's strong commitment to promoting innovation as a strategic priority.

In an interview with China Youth Daily, Professor Lan Qingxin, Director of the BRICS Research Center at the University of International Business and Economics, emphasized that China's economic vitality and future prospects are deeply rooted in technological innovation, which is supported by a strong foundation in scientific capabilities.

Professor Lan further highlighted that by leveraging its robust scientific infrastructure, China has positioned itself as a pivotal "intermediary hub" within global technology ecosystems. By integrating global resources, this approach not only stimulates domestic innovation but also contributes to international scientific governance.

"For instance," Lan explained, "China's advanced semiconductor packaging and testing technologies complement Japan's materials expertise and South Korea's memory chip manufacturing capabilities, thereby promoting regional industrial collaboration. In the field of artificial intelligence, China's large language models, developed through extensive application scenarios, address Southeast Asia's multilingual needs while collaborating with Japan and South Korea to co-develop robotic control algorithms and establish international standards for smart manufacturing."

Two humanoid robots were in charge of the reception during the 2025 Zhongguancun Forum Annual Conference on March 29, 2025. (Photo by CFP)

In recent years, China has significantly increased its R&D investment to drive industrial upgrading. Cities such as Beijing and Shanghai have established comprehensive industrial clusters spanning from basic research to commercialization. Meanwhile, China's vast population and internet user base provide a broad market for new technologies. Leading tech giants, such as Tencent and Baidu, are at the forefront of AI innovation, while Huawei and ZTE dominate telecommunications. BYD and CATL are recognized as global leaders in new energy and smart manufacturing.

Looking ahead, sustained R&D investment, expanding market demand, and deepening international collaboration will enable China to unlock new dimensions of economic growth, inject vitality into global development and drive advances in technology and industrial upgrading worldwide. (By Jia Xiaojing/China Youth Daily)

来源：中国青年报客户端