Hong Kong Bauhinia Magazine:

The outline of the 15th Five-Year Plan proposes to further implement the Excellence Quality Program for the Manufacturing Industry. This year's Government Work Report also sets out new requirements for quality-related work. What progress has been made since the implementation of this program? What are the next steps to deepen its implementation? Thank you.

Zhang Yunming:

Thank you for your questions. I will take them. Quality is the lifeline of manufacturing. Pursuing excellence in quality is an inherent requirement for achieving high-quality development in manufacturing and improving people's quality of life. To stimulate enterprises' internal motivation for quality improvement, in December 2023, the MIIT took the lead in issuing a guideline on implementing the Excellence Quality Program for the Manufacturing Industry. For more than two years, we have been developing a set of scientific methodologies, and managed to issue the specification for evaluating quality management capabilities of manufacturing enterprises, building a tiered evaluation system consisting of "entry level, inspection level, assurance level, prevention level, and excellence level." This sets the standards and guidance for enterprises to improve their quality. We have also explored an implementation pathway by focusing on key areas related to national strategies and people's well-being. This will guide enterprises to benchmark against standards and achieve compliance through a process of "standards implementation, self-assessment, and review. "We have promoted quality improvement among a number of enterprises and organized more than 14,000 enterprises to participate in the evaluation. A large number of enterprises have reached the assurance level or above, and participating enterprises have seen significant improvements in quality and efficiency. A social atmosphere of pursuing excellence in quality is taking shape.

During the 15th Five-Year Plan period, we will faithfully implement the arrangements set out in the Plan outline. Focusing on the Excellence Quality Program for the Manufacturing Industry, we will take into account actual conditions, emphasize key priorities, and adopt differentiated measures across sectors. Four special initiatives will be deployed to accelerate the improvement of manufacturing quality, providing strong support for building China into a powerhouse in manufacturing, quality, and cyberspace.

First, we will implement the Enterprise Quality Improvement Initiative and strictly control quality at the source. We will give full play to the principal role of enterprises and carry out evaluations of quality management capabilities. These will target key sectors and key enterprises, using evaluation to drive improvement and excellence, and promote the upgrading of quality management capabilities in a number of enterprises. We will implement the Manufacturing Quality Enhancement Along the Industrial Chain Program, giving full play to the leading role of chain-leading enterprises and advancing coordinated quality improvement across the entire industrial chain.

Second, we will implement the Quality Technology Advancement Initiative to enhance quality competitiveness. We will support the establishment of high-level quality consortia, and accelerate breakthroughs in key generic technologies as well as the transformation and application of research outcomes. We will advance the integration of AI and quality management, encourage the development and application of high-quality large models for quality and industrial quality intelligent agents, and inject intelligent momentum into quality improvement.

Third, we will implement the Product Quality Upgrade Initiative to expand the supply of high-quality products. We will focus on the equipment manufacturing and electronics sectors, and vigorously enhance the reliability of key core products. Guided by demand and led by advanced and applicable standards, enterprises will be encouraged to produce more diversified, personalized, and higher-quality products. For products related to public health and safety, we will strengthen industry governance and quality supervision, and firmly safeguard the baseline of safety.

Fourth, we will implement the China Manufacturing Brand Building Initiative to foster new competitive advantages in branding. We will strengthen the synergy between brand building and quality improvement, enhance the ability of enterprises, industries and regions to build brands, and continuously improve the brand awareness, reputation and influence of "China Manufacturing". Thank you.

Jia Huili:

Due to time constraints, we will take the last two questions.