Manufacturing in China spurs global growth

Amid a backdrop of evolving global trade dynamics, China's manufacturing sector remains a crucial pillar driving worldwide economic stability, technological progress and green transition, experts and corporate executives said.

Highlighting that the strength of "Made in China" is the outcome of open competition, economies of scale and sustained investment in innovation, they said any attempts to frame this capacity as a threat overlook its fundamental role as a catalyst for shared development and a greener future for all.

Luo Zhongwei, a researcher at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences' Institute of Industrial Economics, said that the prominent presence of Made in China worldwide is underpinned by relentless innovation and advanced production capabilities.

Since 2000, China's research and development spending has increased at an annual average growth rate of 14.2 percent, nearly twice that of South Korea and four times that of the United States, propelling its industries toward digital, intelligent and green development, Luo said.

"Some foreign countries' claims that China should cut its capacity are nothing but a pretext to curb its industries. The real intention is to deprive China of its competitive edge and impede its development, because what they really care about is not capacity, but their own market share," he added.

According to the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, China has been the world's largest manufacturing country in terms of output for 15 consecutive years, accounting for about 30 percent of global industrial output.

The tangible impact of Made in China on consumers worldwide, particularly in developed economies, is significant. Market analysis has highlighted that reduced access to Chinese goods could raise inflation, as shown in mid-2025 when Washington threatened to impose high tariffs on Chinese exports, Luo said.

Ripple effects

Kyle Chan, a fellow at the Brookings Institution, said a defining characteristic of China's industrial rise is the strong interconnection and mutual support among its sectors.

Chan described China's innovation landscape not as separate silos, but as interconnected, overlapping ecosystems that enrich one another. For instance, progress in fields like lithium-ion batteries creates positive ripple effects across related areas — including electric vehicles, consumer electronics and energy storage. Subsequently, demand from these downstream industries fosters economies of scale and spurs further innovation along the supply chain.

Such close interdependence is built on China's complete industrial system. China is the only country in the world to have all 41 industrial divisions and more than 700 subcategories as defined by the United Nations, said the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology.

Huang Qifan, former mayor of Chongqing, said that such a sprawling presence enables Chinese and foreign companies alike to not just scale at a faster pace here, but also enjoy accelerated learning curves alongside lower costs and greater capacity to upgrade their products. That's the unique contribution of Made in China to the world.

A prime example is Tesla's Shanghai Gigafactory, a landmark of China-foreign cooperation, which has become a cornerstone of the US EV firm's global strategy.

Producing nearly half of Tesla's worldwide deliveries, the factory exemplifies efficiency with a new vehicle rolling off its line approximately every 30 seconds. Its success is symbiotic, built on a 95 percent localized supply chain that has nurtured a robust regional industrial cluster, demonstrating how foreign enterprises thrive within and contribute to China's advanced manufacturing ecosystem.

Tao Lin, vice-president of Tesla, said the company's rapid growth in China cannot be separated from the country's policy support and favorable business environment.

Isabel Ge Mahe, vice-president and managing director of Apple Greater China, said, "Chinese suppliers are world-leading in their technologies."

Currently, more than 80 percent of Apple's 200 major suppliers, including foreign and Chinese firms, have a manufacturing presence in China.

Hong Qunlian, a researcher at the National Development and Reform Commission's Chinese Academy of Macroeconomic Research, said Made in China lowers living costs for families worldwide, enables technological leaps for international partners and provides indispensable tools for planetary sustainability.