The Chinese government has presented its first themed report to the top legislature on 鈥渘ew quality productive forces鈥 鈥 a growth model focused on technological breakthroughs and industrial upgrades 鈥 pledging to expand the use of home-grown large language models and attract more foreign investment.
The National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), the country鈥檚 top economic planner, told lawmakers that China had made significant progress in advancing the development model, which President Xi Jinping first introduced in late 2023.
Authorities would press ahead with 鈥渂reakthroughs in key technologies鈥, according to the report delivered to the Standing Committee of the National People鈥檚 Congress (NPC).
鈥淐hina faces new opportunities and room to develop the new quality productive forces,鈥 Xiang Libin, a deputy chairman of the commission, was quoted as saying by state-run China News Service (CNS).
The report coincided with the legislature鈥檚 review of how the 2024 central government budget was spent.
The term 鈥渘ew quality productive forces鈥 has become a political buzzword, frequently cited in official documents and speeches, as Beijing doubles down in its pursuit of technological self-reliance amid mounting external pressure.
The report on Tuesday came as China remains locked in a prolonged trade and technology stand-off with the United States, which is seeking a sweeping global ban on the use of advanced Chinese artificial intelligence chips and has imposed export controls on US semiconductors to limit Beijing鈥檚 access to the cutting-edge tech.
According to the report, China鈥檚 production of integrated circuits 鈥 the electronic component embedded in chips 鈥 rose by 22.2 per cent last year, with exports reaching about US$159.5 billion, surpassing smartphones as the country鈥檚 top export by value, customs data showed.
To advance its strategy, Beijing will promote the application of large language model-based AI across various industries, CNS reported.
It also aims to strengthen data governance, including circulation and security, and improve frameworks for data property rights, trading and income distribution, the CNS report added.
Beijing will further expand the list of sectors open to foreign direct investment and ensure 鈥渢he full implementation of national treatment for foreign enterprises鈥, according to CNS. It also promised improved services for international talent.