BEIJING, April 13 (Xinhua) — Facing intense competition and the challenges of climbing toward transformation, "Made in China" has embraced the key to innovation, embarking on a new journey of supply-side structural reforms. As a result, the industry is not only unlocking fresh opportunities for growth but also gaining powerful momentum to drive its upgrade and transformation.

　　New technologies and groundbreaking achievements are accelerating their transformation, while innovative models and business formats continue to emerge. As a result, both added value and global influence are steadily rising, with innovation powerfully steering "Made in China" forward as it navigates through waves of change.

　　Innovation: Crafting a New "Made in China" Identity

　　On April 3 local time, a Boston Orange Line subway train manufactured by China Railway Rolling Stock Corporation (CRRC) drew crowds of onlookers at Boston's City Hall Plaza. This marked the first time "Made by CRRC" was unveiled—and introduced to its future passengers.

　　From leveling the bogie to precisely assembling and meshing gear screws, to breakthroughs in cold- and heat-resistant technologies and advanced system integration control—every innovation in a single train is countless. Liu Hualong, Chairman of CRRC, proudly notes that China’s rail transportation industry has now achieved comprehensive exports across its entire supply chain, including traction systems and ventilation technologies, earning it a coveted spot as a trusted partner in the global market thanks to its exceptional quality and cutting-edge expertise. In just the past six months, CRRC has secured orders for 184 metro trains from Boston and Los Angeles, respectively.

　　Represented by rail transit, "Made in China" in the new era is gradually shifting from low-value-added manufacturing and processing toward a focus on high-tech, high-quality, and premium products—what we call "Created in China." Shenzhou spacecraft, Tianhe supercomputers, Beidou navigation systems—these globally recognized Chinese brands stand as testaments to China's independent innovation in manufacturing, while also serving as shining "Chinese calling cards" on the international stage.

　　Notably, in recent years, "Made in China" has seen a steady acceleration in innovation across cutting-edge fields, with several breakthroughs filling critical domestic gaps and establishing the country’s presence on the global stage—potentially even paving the way for new industries and opening up emerging markets.

　　Huawei has taken the global lead by introducing a high-temperature, long-lasting graphene-based lithium-ion battery that raises the upper operating temperature limit of lithium-ion cells by 10°C and doubles their lifespan. Meanwhile, China’s domestically produced CPU-powered "Sunway TaihuLight" has become the world’s first supercomputer capable of delivering computing speeds exceeding 100 petaflops—more than one quintillion calculations per second. And as innovative technologies like quantum-dot TVs and OLED TVs continue to emerge at an accelerated pace, the future of display innovation looks brighter than ever.

　　According to data from China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, China has made significant progress in cutting-edge research across multiple fields, including transparent display technology, lithium-ion batteries, and superconducting materials, placing the country at the global forefront.

　　"Driven by technology, China's manufacturing sector is actively seizing opportunities and forging a broader, more expansive path for development, ushering in significant transformations," said Miao Wei, Minister of Industry and Information Technology.

　　Innovation fuels new momentum for transformation and upgrading.

　　Through innovations in product design, technical solutions, and material applications, Goertek Inc., together with its partners, has successfully developed a virtual reality headset with an enhanced wearing experience. The product is expected to launch by the end of this year.

　　As a manufacturing enterprise that has grown organically in China, over the past decade plus, Goertek has leveraged its manufacturing strengths in areas such as miniature acoustic modules and sensors to become a key supplier for globally renowned companies like Samsung and Sony.

　　“While working as a supplier is certainly comfortable, development has always remained somewhat out of our control,” said Ji Yong, Vice President of Goertek. He added that Goertek will deepen its focus on areas like virtual reality and artificial intelligence, accelerating its transformation and driving innovation.

　　The benefits of "late-mover advantage" and "comparative advantage" are gradually being exhausted—so how can we find new sources of momentum? With overcapacity and soaring costs, how do we boost efficiency and unlock greater value? And given the uneven development across regions and industries, how can we achieve more balanced growth? These are all challenges facing "Made in China," and the solutions lie squarely in innovation.

　　"To achieve a transformative climb up the value chain, the key lies in optimizing existing assets. We must infuse innovative thinking into every stage of every industry, effectively driving improvements in quality and efficiency," said Li Beiguang, Deputy Director-General of the Planning Department at China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology.

　　What can you do in 2 seconds? At Qingdao Hongling Group, cutting-edge 3D body-scanning technology—used here—can capture 22 data points from 19 key body measurements "in the blink of an eye," automatically completing the garment-fitting process. By reimagining industrial production processes through the lens of internet-driven thinking, Hongling has not only streamlined the speed of body measurements but also enabled personalized production on the assembly line, opening up entirely new possibilities for growth and innovation.

　　"By experimenting with internet-based industry—initially to tackle inventory issues—we realized after a few years that this approach represents a complete methodology, fundamentally reshaping the traditional logic of our sector," said Zhang Daili, Chairman of Hongling Group.

　　It’s not just the red collar that’s changing. Since the launch of "Made in China 2025," the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology has identified 109 pilot demonstration projects for intelligent manufacturing, which have collectively boosted production efficiency by more than 30% on average, while reducing operational costs by over 20% as well.

　　In addition to internal industry restructuring, the transfer of industries among regions has also become more balanced and targeted.

　　In recent years, regions across China—such as Shenzhen’s drones, Zhuzhou’s “Power Valley,” Wuhan’s “Optics Valley,” and Shenyang’s robotics sector—have leveraged their existing industrial strengths to actively attract and integrate high-end production resources and cutting-edge shared technologies. This has enabled them to achieve differentiated regional development, reshaping the manufacturing landscape into a "new blueprint" for industry growth.

　　"Innovation also requires allocating the right resources to the right places, enabling precise and targeted efforts. This is precisely the essence of supply-side structural reform," said Miao Wei. He added that the emergence of a new manufacturing landscape is not only driving local industries toward transformation and upgrading but also boosting confidence in achieving "overtaking on a curve."

　　Innovation, driving vitality through continuous reform.

　　Standing at the cusp of a new wave of technological and industrial transformation, "Made in China" needs major innovations more than ever before to seize the initiative. This is not only an opportunity we cannot afford to miss—it’s also a challenge we simply can’t afford to lose. To ignite innovation, we must revitalize the engine of creativity through reform, dismantle institutional and systemic barriers that stifle progress, and unlock greater potential for growth—this is now our top priority.

　　On one hand, we must continue advancing the transformation of government functions, removing obstacles that stand in the way, and paving a clear path for innovation and entrepreneurship.

　　From steadfastly promoting administrative streamlining and decentralization, to vigorously advancing mass entrepreneurship and innovation by all, and further to accelerating and reducing costs in the telecommunications sector, government departments have continued to dismantle systemic and institutional inefficiencies, unlocking greater market vitality and untapped development potential. Last year alone, the nation saw an average of 15,100 new businesses registered daily—a remarkable surge since the launch of reforms in the business registration system.

　　However, "While we move forward, others are also making progress." Reform must not pause—it needs to keep advancing in greater depth, unlocking the vitality of every enterprise and every individual, and creating both time and space for growth.

　　On the other hand, we must also create a more supportive and inclusive institutional environment, paving the "fast track" to dismantle the "glass wall" that hinders cost-to-innovation conversion, remove barriers to talent mobility, and fully unleash the dynamism of innovation.

　　Miao Wei stated that the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology is advancing the construction of manufacturing innovation centers, establishing innovative platforms in several key areas to pool collaborative efforts, tackle critical challenges systematically, and accelerate the transformation of scientific research achievements into productive forces. Currently, a power battery innovation center has already been established, and by 2020, around 15 national-level innovation centers will be set up.

　　Bringing innovative breakthroughs to industrialization also comes with its own set of challenges. This underscores the need for a robust, fault-tolerant mechanism to support innovation. In key areas like advanced equipment and new materials, China has already launched pilot insurance and compensation schemes tailored to market applications, encouraging users to confidently embrace and actively adopt cutting-edge technologies and equipment. Moving forward, the government will continue refining these policies to further enhance their effectiveness and broader adoption.

　　We can see that initiatives driven by innovation are steadily improving, and a positive environment is taking shape across society—one that celebrates and eagerly embraces innovation. "In the future, we will further strengthen the integration of science & technology with the economy, continuously advancing reforms to elevate 'Made in China' to new heights," said Miao Wei.