Reference News Network, March 10 report: The German publication "Wirtschaftswoche" published an article titled "In Which Areas (and How) Does Beijing Want to Surpass Us?" on March 4. The author is Jörg Petrin. The following is a translation of the article:
Recently, China's train stations and airports have been operating at an extraordinary level: hundreds of millions of people returned home for family visits during the Spring Festival. Everywhere, billboards are flashing promises of a grand future: high technology, artificial intelligence, humanoid robots. AI large models are heavily promoted, and robots are competing in exquisite videos. When German Chancellor Merkel made her first visit to China after taking office, she surely did not miss this high-tech show.
After the 15-day Spring Festival celebrations, technological visions will be transformed into policy in China's important political meetings. On March 5, the annual session of the National People's Congress will open in Beijing. Nearly 3,000 representatives from all over the country will review the new five-year plan formulated by the political leadership.
The content advertised on the screens will gain momentum in reality. Further reducing dependence on Western technology will become a cornerstone of China's economic model and enhance the country's strategic capabilities in times of geopolitical turbulence.
"In previous five-year plans, China never said it wanted to lead in a certain area. Its main goal was always to narrow the gap," said Wang Dan, director of Eurasia Group's China division. Now, China has clearly expressed demands for areas where it is catching up and leading in technological innovation.
For example, Alexander Brown, analyst at the Mercator Institute for China Studies, believes that Beijing is rapidly developing in areas such as "embodied artificial intelligence." The Chinese Communist Party leadership also views "low-altitude economy" as a strategic future field. Moreover, electric vehicles are no longer a priority in the new five-year plan, as the industry is already quite mature in China.
Wang Dan said, "Looking back at recent years, we can see the effectiveness of China's five-year plans." Many economic goals of the previous five-year plan have been achieved or exceeded.
The five-year plans in China are a list of priorities that determine the framework of economic policies. These plans are considered guidelines for ministries, provinces, and state-owned enterprises. However, this system is vastly different from the strict first five-year plan of the 1950s.
Today's industrial policies are more modern and have more precise objectives.
In this context, German companies have a contradictory attitude toward China. "On one hand, new business opportunities are emerging," said Yang Liwen, executive director of the China-German Chamber of Commerce in North China and Northeast China. "On the other hand, with increased investment in R&D by China, German companies will face greater pressure - whether in the Chinese domestic market or in third-party markets." (Translation/Nie Litao)
People experience an electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft at the automotive and smart mobility exhibition area of the 8th China International Import Expo (November 8, 2025). (Xinhua)
Original: toutiao.com/article/7615536396195217935/
Statement: This article represents the personal views of the author.