"Made in China 2025" will help China strengthen manufacturing innovation, promote industrial transformation and upgrading, and become a "high-tech paradise" — this is how overseas media such as Forbes magazine of the United States and El Mundo of Spain recently commented on China's action plan for the first ten years of its strategy to build a manufacturing powerhouse.

　　Manufacturing is the mainstay of the national economy, the main battlefield for technological innovation, and the foundation for building the country, invigorating the nation, and strengthening the nation. The "Made in China 2025" plan introduced in 2015 has continued to attract widespread attention from overseas manufacturing experts and public opinion. Experts believe that "Made in China 2025" points out the path and direction for China's manufacturing development and industrial upgrading.

　　Innovation promotes industrial upgrading

　　Currently, China is in a critical period of economic restructuring, transformation and upgrading, and "Made in China 2025" is an important measure to help China's economic transformation and move toward an innovative society. "Made in China 2025" points out that structural adjustment should be taken as a key link in building a manufacturing powerhouse, vigorously developing advanced manufacturing, and transforming and upgrading traditional industries.

　　An article recently published on the Forbes magazine website said that "Made in China 2025" shows that China is advancing innovation and accelerating the pace of industrial upgrading. China needs to maintain its competitive advantage in global development through innovation and remain invincible.

　　Cai Yuan, a researcher at the Lowy Institute for International Policy in Australia, said that China's economy is now in a transitional stage, the advantages of traditional manufacturing are gradually diminishing, the costs of means of production such as water, electricity, and land are rising, and labor costs are also constantly climbing, which forces China's manufacturing industry to upgrade.

　　In recent years, the integrated development of China's traditional industries and the Internet has accelerated significantly, prompting the continuous improvement of intelligent manufacturing levels. A number of core technology equipment research and development applications have made new breakthroughs, providing strong impetus for the transformation and upgrading of traditional industries.

　　Cai Yuan said that some Chinese industries, including rail transit equipment, communications, and power equipment, already have strong international competitiveness. Taking the communications industry as an example, Chinese companies represented by Huawei and ZTE have strong market competitiveness and have entered developed country markets.

　　Xiong Yu, a tenured chair professor at Newcastle Business School, Northumbria University in the United Kingdom, said that China has introduced or borrowed some technologies or innovations from other countries, and after being cultivated in the Chinese market, they have spawned innovation and change, thereby forming a global influence.

　　Targeting emerging industries

　　Under the wave of informatization, industrial development faces many challenges. "Made in China 2025" focuses on the strategic goal of building a manufacturing powerhouse, clarifies 9 strategic tasks and priorities, and while promoting the transformation and upgrading of traditional industries, aims at the direction of a new round of global industrial development and promotes the close integration of traditional industries with emerging industries such as 3D printing, robotics, and artificial intelligence.

　　The Financial Times of the United Kingdom published an article saying that Chinese companies are beginning to dominate the lithium-ion battery industry that has been led by South Korean and Japanese manufacturers for the past 30 years. As environmental awareness takes root and car manufacturers increase investment in electric vehicles, lithium-ion battery production will remain an important technology for at least the next 10 years.

　　Simon Moores, general manager of the research organization Benchmark Mineral Intelligence, said in an exclusive interview with Xinhua News Agency reporters that in the global electric vehicle market, from small electric bicycles to large pure electric vehicles, all are developing rapidly, and China's lithium-ion battery industry is occupying a leading position in the world.

　　According to calculations by Benchmark Mineral Intelligence, in 2020 China's lithium-ion battery production capacity will account for 62% of the world's total, with the United States and South Korea accounting for 22% and 13% respectively.

　　In addition, as one of the key development areas of "Made in China 2025," at the time of the transformation of old and new growth drivers, the robotics industry has become one of the new highlights. Data from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology show that in 2016 China's industrial robot output reached 72,400 units, a year-on-year increase of 34.3%. More than 40 robotics industrial parks have been built or are under construction, and the number of robotics enterprises exceeds 800.

　　Xiong Yu said that China has both huge domestic demand and scientific and technological strength, and promoting manufacturing innovation that combines artificial intelligence, big data, and the Internet is the main direction of China's manufacturing development.

　　The state promotes long-term development

　　"Made in China 2025," in response to the development trends of global traditional and emerging industries and in light of the development status of different industries, has reasonably formulated a plan for gradually upgrading the manufacturing industry, so that China's position in the value chains of various global industries can be comprehensively improved.

　　Experts believe that industrial upgrading is a necessary action for China's economic development. To ensure sustained competitiveness, national financial support and continuous scientific and technological research and development are also needed. Mustafa Ibrahim, vice chairman of the Egyptian-Chinese Business Council, said that industrial upgrading cannot rely solely on commercial interests; the state also needs to provide guidance and support in terms of long-term planning and finance.

　　To accomplish its goals and tasks, "Made in China 2025" proposes strategic support and guarantees in 8 aspects, including improving financial support policies and increasing fiscal and tax policy support.

　　The People's Bank of China and four other departments recently published the "Guiding Opinions on Financial Support for Building a Manufacturing Powerhouse," aimed at focusing on the key areas and key tasks of "Made in China 2025" and strengthening financial support for technological innovation, transformation and upgrading in the manufacturing industry.

　　Spain's El Mundo reported that China hopes to become the most dynamic "high-tech paradise" among knowledge-intensive industries by 2025, and strong capital investment will undoubtedly enable many Chinese companies to gain an advantage in the world economic order.

　　Luo Jiafu, vice chairman of the Executive Committee of the Sino-German "Industry 4.0" Alliance, said that Germany's "Industry 4.0" and "Made in China 2025" have similarities, and the government plays a guiding and supporting role in both. As long as Chinese companies have innovation capabilities and high-quality products, they will enhance their position in the global economy.