Phoenix TV:

The new materials industry is an important strategic emerging industry in our country, with significant implications for promoting technological innovation and manufacturing industry optimization and upgrades. Could you please provide an overview of the current development of the new materials industry? And what do you plan to do next? 

Tao Qing:

Thank you for your questions. New materials represent a strategic, foundational, and leading industry that is integral to the comprehensive establishment of a modernized economy. The CPC Central Committee places significant emphasis on the innovative development of new materials.

China's new material industry has grown and developed rapidly in recent years. First, the scale of the sector continues to expand. According to relevant statistics, the total output value of the new material industry from January to September this year exceeded 5 trillion yuan, maintaining double-digit growth. Second, the innovation capabilities of the industry continue to improve. Seven national manufacturing innovation centers in new materials and 35 key platforms for new materials in three categories have been established, forming a relatively complete innovation support system. A number of major key materials have made breakthroughs, and cutting-edge technologies, such as high-temperature superconducting materials and perovskite solar cell materials, have emerged. Third, the strength of enterprises has gradually increased. There are more than 20,000 new material companies above the designated size, including 1,972 specialized and sophisticated "little giant" companies and 248 manufacturing enterprises that are champions in their individual categories, accounting for 22% and 25% of its kind, respectively. Several leading companies in key fields have been cultivated. The collaborative development environment for enterprises of all sizes is taking shape. In the field of new materials, seven national advanced manufacturing clusters have been fostered, serving as an "accelerator" for regional economic growth.

Next, the MIIT will carefully study the principles from General Secretary Xi Jinping's important instructions, implement the deployment of a national meeting on pushing forward new industrialization, and focus on addressing weak links, enhancing strengths, exploring frontiers, and optimizing the ecosystem. We will continue to make efforts to promote the innovation and development of the new material industry, building it into a new growth engine. First, we need to accelerate breakthroughs in key areas. Focusing on deficiencies in people's livelihoods and the significant requirements of establishing China as a manufacturing leader, we will support collaborative innovation and breakthroughs in industrialization through partnerships between industry, academia, research, and application. Our goal is to enhance the resilience and security of our industrial and supply chains. Second, we will focus on developing areas of advantage. Targeting cutting-edge materials with a foundation for industrialization and key materials with a strong basis for innovation, we will support scenario exploration, promotion, and application, adopting a materials-centered approach. Third, we aim to optimize and bolster the innovation ecosystem. By improving the framework of the new material standard system, guiding various forms of nongovernmental capital to invest more in the sector, and stimulating the energy of different market entities, we hope to cultivate a favorable environment for the new material industry. Thank you.