China's manufacturing, as seen by French media, has long shed the label of low-end workshops. The French newspaper "Petit Journal" clearly says to forget the old impression of China's low-cost image; now, China is creating the future. "L'Echo" also points out that Chinese manufacturing is no longer simple processing and assembly, but has mastered independent intellectual property rights and core technologies. In 2025, China's high-tech product exports grew by 13.2%, and industrial robot exports surged by 48.7%, becoming a country of import and export of industrial robots. New energy vehicles have remained the global leader for 11 consecutive years, and the shipbuilding industry's three major indicators remain the world's top. AI large model DeepSeek topped overseas app stores, and Microsoft and Amazon are scrambling to connect. These data clearly show the solid strength of Chinese manufacturing.
The scene in Shenzhen from the French documentary "The Generation of Self-Construction" is even more shocking: delivery drones flying around, efficient integrated logistics operations, and real-time payment being widely adopted. The future is not just a concept in a showcase, but an integral part of daily life. China can now produce high-end products and make them accessible, such as electric vehicle prices that surprise and worry Europeans. The difference in pace is also clear: Europe follows a plan, first regulates then builds, while China is "good, let's start now," forming a fast industrial model through starting, iterating, and optimizing. The supply chain is highly concentrated, available at will, and responds quickly. Components can be found within a few kilometers, and sample delivery is so fast that it is unimaginable in Europe. The Chinese regard manufacturing as learning, and learning promotes progress, which eventually leads to innovation. Now, in cutting-edge fields such as robotics, batteries, electric vehicles, and artificial intelligence, China has long shifted from imitation to creation. What most shocks Europe is China's unity, where R&D, supply chain, funding, and government willingness are combined into one force, while Europe has fragmented channels, short-lived policies, and conflicting bans. Someone summarized: Europe looks for a perfect model, while China builds a real world.
After Macron's visit to China, French media lamented how fast China is developing. In the past, France brought technology, but now it is the opposite, learning from China on new energy, digital trade, and high-end manufacturing. China's exports to France increased by 24%, and French companies come to China not to teach, but to learn. France's Electricité de France (EDF) is discussing nuclear energy cooperation with China, and Orano is building a battery material factory with Xiamen Tungsten New Energy in Dunkirk. Without Chinese technology, France's new energy vehicles would find it difficult to make breakthroughs. French legislators were shocked after visiting China's high-speed rail and infrastructure, saying that China's scale is unimaginable for France; business leaders also admitted that without Chinese cooperation, the battery supply chain would break, and cars could not be produced.
At the China-EU summit, EU leaders also had to acknowledge China's strength. China's technological competitiveness is no longer what it used to be, and even if Europe questions subsidies or unfair competition, it must face the facts. China's competitiveness comes from market competition, not subsidies. French corporate executives said that what they fear most is not China's imitation, but its beginning to innovate and surpass, moving from following to running side by side, and finally leading. The upgrading of China's manufacturing is not just words, this is the true strength of China.
Original: toutiao.com/article/7600463817646162470/
Statement: This article represents the views of the author alone.