China has unveiled an ambitious technology blueprint under its new five-year plan, setting out goals to achieve breakthroughs in artificial intelligence chips, accelerate the development of sixth-generation (6G) communications, and establish global standards for humanoid robotics. The strategy highlights Beijing’s determination to anchor economic growth in innovation as technological rivalry with the United States intensifies and global supply chains continue to fragment.
At a press conference on Wednesday, officials from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) said China would prioritise progress in core AI technologies, particularly training chips and heterogeneous computing systems. These areas are widely regarded as bottlenecks for the country’s AI sector, especially as US-led restrictions on advanced semiconductor exports limit access to cutting-edge foreign technology.
The ministry said its approach would combine breakthroughs in hardware with advances in software and applications. Artificial intelligence is expected to be more deeply integrated across sectors ranging from software development and communications to biotechnology and advanced manufacturing. Officials also emphasised the importance of improving large AI models and so-called intelligent agents, systems designed to perform complex tasks autonomously across different environments.
Beyond individual technologies, MIIT outlined plans to strengthen the broader AI ecosystem. This includes measures to support start-ups and established firms, develop industry standards, and expand open-source initiatives aimed at encouraging collaboration and speeding up innovation. Similar policies will be applied to humanoid robotics, a field China sees as a strategic frontier. Authorities said they would work to establish an open-source robotics community and release guidelines for embodied intelligence, which combines physical robotic systems with advanced AI decision-making capabilities.
China’s technology sector has expanded rapidly over the past decade, driven by intense competition among start-ups and technology giants alike. That growth has been underpinned by strong policy support from both central and local governments, which continue to prioritise high-tech industries in their development plans as traditional drivers such as property and heavy industry lose momentum.
Hangzhou, a major technology hub in eastern China’s Zhejiang province, illustrates how local governments are aligning with national priorities. Under its 15th five-year plan, the city aims to nurture more than three internationally leading open-source foundational AI models by 2030 and generate more than 600 billion yuan ($80 billion) in core AI industry revenue. Hangzhou already hosts a growing cluster of technology firms, including AI developer DeepSeek and robotics company Unitree Robotics, reinforcing its reputation as a centre for innovation.
Nationally, MIIT said it would act on both the supply and demand sides of the economy to accelerate the formation of what it described as “emerging pillar industries.” Officials pledged support for local governments to establish pilot zones for future industries, expand the role of state-backed investment funds, and encourage what they termed healthy competition across regions in next-generation sectors.
The emphasis on competition reflects a balancing act for policymakers. While Beijing wants to avoid wasteful duplication of projects and overcapacity, it also sees regional rivalry as a way to stimulate innovation and accelerate technological progress. Central authorities have increasingly sought to guide local initiatives through national standards and coordinated planning.
Concerns that rapid advances in AI and automation could lead to widespread job losses were also addressed at the briefing. Vice-minister Zhang Yunming acknowledged that technological change would reshape labour markets but rejected the idea that it would simply eliminate jobs. Instead, he said the government would focus on improving AI literacy among workers and cultivating talent with skills that bridge AI and manufacturing.
Zhang drew parallels with previous technological revolutions, arguing that while new technologies initially sparked fears of unemployment, they ultimately raised productivity and created new forms of work. “The key is to adapt skills and education systems to the changing structure of industry,” he said, adding that workforce training would be an important component of future policy.
On communications infrastructure, MIIT said China had recently launched the second phase of its 6G technology trials. The first phase, officials noted, resulted in a reserve of more than 300 key technologies, providing a foundation for further development. China plans to continue a dual-track strategy of commercialising existing technologies while investing heavily in next-generation systems.
The ministry said it would accelerate 6G research and development, cultivate an application ecosystem around the technology, and intensify work on next-generation optical communications. Quantum computing was also highlighted as a priority area, reflecting Beijing’s broader push into technologies seen as strategically vital over the long term.
The initiatives outlined under the new five-year plan underscore China’s bid to secure a leading position in the technologies expected to shape global economic and strategic competition in the coming decades. By doubling down on AI, advanced communications, and robotics, Beijing is signalling that innovation — rather than traditional investment-led growth — will be the cornerstone of its development strategy in an increasingly contested technological landscape.
