ThePaper.cn:
The Central Economic Work Conference emphasized that it is necessary to enhance the core competitiveness of the manufacturing industry. During a State Council executive meeting, the shifts from medium- and low-end manufacturing to medium- and high-end manufacturing were also underlined. What progress has the MIIT made in enhancing the core competitiveness of the manufacturing industry? Are there further plans? Thank you.
Tian Yulong:
Thank you for your concern and support to MIIT. Improving the core competitiveness of the manufacturing industry is a requirement put forward during this year's Central Economic Work Conference. This is also a primary task for us in this year and beyond. While ensuring the stability and security of the supply chain and industrial chain in the early stage, we will further enhance the core competitiveness of the manufacturing industry in the next step.
The stability and security of the industrial chain and supply chain are vital to the core competitiveness of the manufacturing industry. Overall, the industrial economy restored growth in the past year. In the first three quarters, the manufacturing value-added in GDP increased to 27.4%. The proportion of the manufacturing industry remained stable. The efficiency of enterprises has also improved significantly. In the first 11 months of last year, profits from industrial enterprises above the designated size increased by 38% year-on-year and 41.3% compared with the same period in 2019. The overall development of the manufacturing industry is relatively fast, and the efficiency improvement is also reasonably noticeable. This is mainly because the resilience of the industrial chain and supply chain has been secured, significantly improving our entire manufacturing industry, especially in some primary and critical areas. The overall capacity has been improved. In particular, the enhancement is reflected in equipment manufacturing, including containers, photovoltaics, wind power, energy, and electricity. International competitiveness has also been enhanced. These are the specific reflections of the improvement of core competitiveness. Last year, the high-tech and equipment manufacturing industries' added value increased by 18.2% and 12.9% year-on-year, respectively. Considering the negative impact of the COVID-19, this growth rate is awe-inspiring.
The improvement of the core competitiveness of the manufacturing industry is our main task. Therefore, I summarize the target using the term "3+3." This means three foundations and three focuses. To enhance our core competitiveness, we must lay solid foundations in the following three aspects:
First, we should improve the foundation of industrial technologies. The development of the manufacturing industry hinges on core and key technologies. In this regard, we will make great efforts to launch special projects on developing the key technologies, the lack of which will restrict the improvement of the core competitiveness of the manufacturing industry. Furthermore, we will establish several manufacturing innovation centers. In particular, we will jointly build several centers with local governments to promote the formation of industrial clusters and industrial chain aggregation and enable the coordinated development of upstream and downstream of the manufacturing industry.
Second, we will enhance the technological innovation of the industry. Industrial foundations underpin technology. Six foundations, including essential components, parts, materials, software, basic techniques and industrial technologies, are crucial to improving the manufacturing industry's core competitiveness. We will further accelerate the implementation of projects aiming to reinforce the industrial foundation to enhance the core competitiveness of the industry further.
Third, we will further increase the resilience of the industrial chain and supply chain. We will settle problems arising in the industrial chain and supply chain, increase the advantages, and strengthen weak links. We will upgrade the industry, improve quality, and increase efficiency. We will increase efforts to boost investment in the manufacturing industry comprehensively improve the completeness, resilience and standard of the industrial chain, and accelerate technological upgrades and equipment renewal.
The following will be three focuses. The first is to underline the development of enterprises with high growth potential, advanced technology, and a strong market competitive edge. Therefore, we will launch a series of policies such as fee and tax reduction to promote the development of enterprises with high growth potential, advanced technology, and strong market competitive edge, making them players of improving core competitiveness of the manufacturing industry and a significant driving force of the industrial chain and supply chain.
The second is to improve intelligent manufacturing significantly. With digital and information technologies, we will accelerate the digital transformation and upgrading of the manufacturing industry to maintain the leading position of the equipment manufacturing industry and high-tech manufacturing industry, particularly in manufacturing some high-level components and applications of "5G+industrial internet". To improve the capability, intelligent manufacturing should be our priority for investing our efforts and making breakthroughs.
The third is implementing carbon peaking actions in the industrial sector to achieve green manufacturing. Efforts should be made to accelerate the peaking of carbon emissions in key industries and key areas. We will vigorously develop green manufacturing, leading the upgrades and transformation of the technologies of the manufacturing industry. We will carry out green and low-carbon technology application and product development and implement industrial energy efficiency and water efficiency improvement plans. Low-carbon and green manufacturing is an important driving force for the transformation and upgrading of the manufacturing industry, as well as for its innovation and development. We must also curb the reckless development of high-energy intensity and highly pollutive projects.
With these six measures, the core competitiveness of the manufacturing industry will be significantly improved. Therefore, these will be our focuses in 2022 and the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25) period. That's all for my answer to this question. Thank you.
Chen Wenjun:
Thank you to all the speakers and friends from the media. Today's press conference is concluded.
Translated and edited by Zhang Jiaqi, Liu Sitong, Duan Yaying, Liu Qiang, Xu Xiaoxuan, Wang Yiming, Zhang Rui, Chen Xia, Zhang Liying, Wang Yanfang, Yang Xi, Li Huiru, Zhang Tingting, Huang Shan, Wang Qian, Zhu Bochen, Yuan Fang, Cui Can, Jay Birbeck, Drew Pittock and Tom Arnstein. In case of any discrepancy between the English and Chinese texts, the Chinese version is deemed to prevail.
