China's sprint in artificial intelligence (AI) caught global headlines when Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, during his visit to Beijing, remarked that "AI is moving very fast in China."
Huang's praise reflects more than diplomatic goodwill. Earlier this year, Deepseek, a homegrown Chinese AI startup, surged past large players including Nvidia, sending AI stocks on a roller-coaster ride. Meanwhile, firms like iFlytek, SenseTime and DJI continue to win global acclaim for breakthroughs in voice recognition, facial analysis and drone tech.
These success stories fuel China's drive toward high-quality development—a strategy that shifts focus from sheer scale to innovation-led growth. In the words of Zheng Shanjie, head of the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), the "Artificial Intelligence+" economy is spawning new industries, business models and economic formats at breakneck speed.
Data backs this up. Zheng reports that the AI-related economy in 2024 topped 24 trillion yuan (about $3.3 trillion)—a figure on par with the combined GDP of Beijing, Shanghai and Guangdong. With an average annual economic growth rate of 5.5 percent over the first four years of the 14th Five-Year Plan, China is projected to add more than 35 trillion yuan in economic output by 2025.
"Innovation has become the main driving force propelling high-quality development in China," says Yuan Da, secretary general of the NDRC. Young entrepreneurs and global investors are already eyeing the next wave of AI-driven startups and cross-border collaborations.
As China continues to cultivate its AI ecosystem, all eyes are on how these technologies will reshape industries—from healthcare and green energy to smart cities and beyond. For young global citizens and tech enthusiasts alike, the story is clear: the AI revolution in China is just getting started, and its ripple effects will reach every corner of the world.
Reference(s):
How China promotes high-quality development in push for innovation
cgtn.com
