China has reaffirmed its commitment to innovation as a key driver of long-term economic growth, with Premier Li Qiang saying the country’s development strategy integrates technological breakthroughs, industrial upgrading and sustained innovation to foster high-quality development.
Speaking at the 17th Annual Meeting of the New Champions also known as the Summer Davos, in Dalian, Li said the challenge is no longer inventing new technologies but ensuring they reach the marketplace.
He said; “Over the course of long-term innovation, China has forged a path where technological innovation leads industrial upgrading, which in turn drives further technological iteration.”
Li said that, “In many cases, the biggest hurdle to innovation is not invention in the laboratory, but crossing the ‘Darwinian Sea’ between the laboratory and the marketplace.”
He stated that China’s competitive advantage comes from years of innovation and a strong industrial ecosystem, stressing that “This is what gives Chinese products their competitive edge, not government subsidies as some have speculated.”
Resilient economy
The premier highlighted China’s resilient economy, noting 5 percent GDP growth in the first quarter of 2026 and rapid expansion in sectors such as artificial intelligence, where daily token consumption of Chinese large language models exceeded 100 trillion by the end of May.
Addressing concerns over China’s technological rise, Li rejected claims of a “China Shock 2.0,” arguing that China’s innovation offers global opportunities rather than threats.
“What China’s technologies and products in emerging areas bring to the world are not shocks or threats, but opportunities and empowerment,” he said.
Li also pledged stronger international cooperation on artificial intelligence governance
He saids, “China will continue to participate in global governance of AI and other sectors responsibly and constructively, work with all parties to improve institutional rules, strengthen oversight and effectively manage potential risks.”
Xinhua
