A quantum computer in China Photo: VCG

China will release a future industry development action plan in 2024, focusing on cutting-edge industries such as humanoid robots, quantum information and 6G, China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) announced on Thursday.

The MIIT also vowed to implement comprehensive measures for the opening-up of the manufacturing industry, and will further relax market access in the telecommunications sector, meanwhile deepening cooperation within both bilateral and multilateral mechanisms.

The remarks were made at the national conference on industry and information technology held in Beijing on Thursday, during which officials provided a review of 2023 and flagged key tasks for 2024.

In 2023, the industrial economy has shown signs of recovery and improvement. It is expected that the industrial added value will increase by over 4.3 percent year-on-year for the whole year. The proportion of manufacturing value-added to GDP remains stable, maintaining the overall scale as the world's largest for the 14th consecutive year, the meeting said, according to a statement on the MIIT's official website.

Looking ahead, one of the key priorities for 2024 includes efforts to accelerate the cultivation of emerging industries. For instance, the ministry will initiate pilot programs for the admission and on-road operation of intelligent connected vehicles, advance the large-scale application of the Beidou Navigation System, and promote the development of satellite internet.

Emerging industries such as new energy, new materials, high-end equipment, biopharmaceuticals, high-end medical equipment, safety and emergency equipment, will be promoted, new growth in areas such as bio-manufacturing, commercial aerospace, and the low-altitude economy to be generated.

Moreover, the MIIT will also introduce a future industry development action plan targeting industries such as humanoid robots and quantum information, focusing on breakthroughs in key technologies, fostering key products, and expanding scenario applications.

The MIIT also called for a consolidation of leading position of industries where China possesses an advantage, calling on efforts to support the development of the battery-swapping model for new energy vehicles and carry out pilot projects for the comprehensive electrification of vehicles in public areas, meanwhile promoting the high-end application of rare-earths in aerospace, electronic information, new energy, and other fields.

Global Times