Reference News Network, March 15 report: An article titled "China Continuously Invests in the Future in a Period of Global Turmoil" published on the Spanish website "Julio Rios" on March 12, authored by Italian sociologist Alessandro Scassellati. The article is translated as follows:
The United States has used military force against Venezuela and Iran and imposed tariffs globally, trying to revive its declining imperialist hegemony. In contrast, China is preparing for the competition of the era by investing in new productive forces such as artificial intelligence and quantum technology.
At the recently concluded National Two Sessions of China, China set a high-quality economic growth target of 4.5% to 5%. The government work report elaborated on the complex domestic and international situation China faces. The report pointed out that it is necessary to develop new productive forces in accordance with local conditions. In addition, the report explained the strategies of high-quality development and innovation-driven growth, focusing on industrial modernization, technological self-reliance and strength, boosting domestic demand, and further expanding opening up.
Setting the economic growth target within the range of 4.5% to 5% reflects a shift in China's economic development model, from an export-oriented one to a more resilient model against external shocks. This target range demonstrates China's pragmatic attitude toward dealing with complex domestic challenges and a severe global trade environment, giving China greater flexibility in economic governance, so it does not have to make huge financial commitments to pursue overly ambitious growth targets.
The 14th Five-Year Plan is China's socio-economic development blueprint for the period from 2026 to 2030, pointing out two core tasks for the next five years: boosting consumption and strengthening innovation. The word "artificial intelligence" was mentioned more than 50 times in the plan. China has already developed AI models tailored for specific industries and formulated deployment plans for the future. This confidence stems from the significant progress made by Chinese developers over the past year, with companies like DeepSeek rapidly narrowing the gap with their American counterparts.
The goals set in this planning document are like large signal lights, indicating the important directions for national development in the next five years. Policymakers will formulate more specific implementation plans based on them, and enterprises will at least align their strategies with the direction indicated by the country. Over the past five years, China has witnessed the rise of the "new three" industries represented by electric vehicles, lithium-ion batteries, and photovoltaic products, and it is expected that new "new three" industries will emerge in the next five years.
China now has world-class research institutions and leading technology companies with global influence. In addition, China is investing in the technological upgrading of traditional industries, aiming to improve production efficiency and environmental protection levels, and ultimately enhance global competitiveness. The application of artificial intelligence in these traditional industries is crucial for achieving this goal. (Translated by Wang Meng)
Original: toutiao.com/article/7617391810201043492/
Statement: The article represents the views of the author himself.