China’s artificial intelligence (AI) sector witnessed a seismic shift this week as two groundbreaking AI models propelled the nation’s stock market to multi-year highs. Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. introduced its latest open-source model, QwQ-32B, while Manus AI launched a general AI agent, both of which have ignited investor enthusiasm and fueled a surge in tech stocks.
Alibaba’s stock skyrocketed 8.2% in Hong Kong, marking its strongest intraday gain in nearly two weeks, while the broader Hang Seng Tech Index surged 5%, reaching levels unseen since 2021. The rally underscored growing optimism in China’s AI advancements, with investors betting on the country’s increasing dominance in the field.
Alibaba’s newly released QwQ-32B model represents a significant advancement in AI reasoning. Despite using a fraction of the data required by DeepSeek’s R1, the new model boasts superior efficiency. With 32 billion parameters, it is designed to deliver high-level reasoning with minimal computational resources—a crucial factor as AI becomes more integrated into various industries.
“There’s quite a few positive drivers for Alibaba with their open-source reasoning model the latest catalyst,” said Vey-Sern Ling, managing director at Union Bancaire Privee. “Their core business is improving and clearly will benefit from China’s push to drive consumption. Investors now also recognize the value that AI will bring to their cloud computing business.”
The open-source nature of QwQ-32B sets it apart, as Alibaba aims to democratize AI development. By allowing developers to build upon its model, the company is positioning itself as a leading force in next-generation AI applications.
Meanwhile, Manus AI announced the launch of its general AI agent, a bot capable of performing complex tasks autonomously. The company claimed that its model outperforms OpenAI’s DeepResearch on multiple benchmarks, based on the GAIA assessment, which evaluates an AI’s ability to handle real-world challenges.
The Manus AI announcement sent ripples through the market, with Focus Technology Co., which has AI agent products, hitting the 10% daily limit in mainland China. Other AI-related stocks, including Client Service International Inc., also recorded strong gains.
The broader rally in Chinese AI stocks comes in the wake of DeepSeek’s AI breakthrough earlier this year, which triggered a bull run and fueled optimism about China’s tech sector. This week, China’s National People’s Congress reaffirmed government support for AI expansion, vowing to back large-scale AI applications, intelligent terminals, and advanced manufacturing.
Alibaba’s resurgence is particularly notable, as the company has added approximately $135 billion in market value this year alone. After enduring years of government scrutiny, Jack Ma’s tech giant has regained investor confidence, buoyed by its AI advancements and a stabilizing regulatory environment.
“We see a further re-rating happening in the market given how cheap a lot of the China tech stocks look compared to their US peers,” said Ken Wong, an Asian equity portfolio specialist at Eastspring Investments. “Showcasing the enthusiasm is that even some hardware tech names which haven’t really performed earlier are going up.”
The Hang Seng Tech Index, despite its recent rally, remains undervalued compared to US tech stocks, trading at 19 times forward earnings—a steep discount from its 45 times valuation in 2021. This valuation gap has drawn global investors looking for AI-driven growth at attractive prices.
Amid the excitement, Alibaba announced an ambitious 380 billion yuan ($52 billion) investment in AI infrastructure over the next three years. The company is ramping up spending on data centers, AI chips, and machine learning systems, underscoring its commitment to becoming a global AI leader.
The massive investment signals Alibaba’s intent to compete directly with global AI leaders like OpenAI, Google DeepMind, and DeepSeek. However, it also raises questions about whether big tech firms are overestimating future AI demand or underestimating the capital needed to sustain rapid innovation.
“The AI boom is here, but companies need to balance ambition with execution,” said Alex Lin, an analyst at China Renaissance. “Investors are excited, but they’re also watching closely to see if these AI models translate into real revenue growth.”
China’s rapid AI advancements are placing it in direct competition with US tech giants, especially in the realm of open-source models and AI infrastructure. While OpenAI’s ChatGPT remains the most widely recognized generative AI tool globally, Chinese firms are quickly catching up, leveraging state-backed support and an immense domestic market.
DeepSeek’s earlier breakthrough, along with Alibaba’s QwQ-32B and Manus AI’s general AI agent, suggests that China is no longer just an AI follower—it’s emerging as an innovator.
With government backing, corporate investment, and a fast-growing AI talent pool, China’s tech giants are now leading AI development in key areas such as reasoning models, general AI agents, and enterprise AI applications.
The surge in Chinese AI stocks is expected to continue, but long-term success will depend on the monetization of these AI advancements. Companies like Alibaba, DeepSeek, and Manus AI will need to demonstrate how their models translate into scalable business applications across industries, from e-commerce and cloud computing to autonomous systems and financial technology.
As the AI race intensifies, investors and tech analysts alike will be watching closely to see if China’s AI revolution can sustain its momentum. For now, Alibaba and Manus AI have injected fresh optimism into the market, fueling what could be the beginning of a new era in artificial intelligence.
