Central SOEs key engines of 'AI Plus' industrial push

China will push its centrally administered State-owned enterprises to advance the "AI Plus" initiative, positioning the entities as major drivers of artificial intelligence-enabled applications across industries and key organizers of a more coherent industrial layout, a senior State assets regulator said on Wednesday.

Speaking at a news conference in Beijing, Pang Xiaogang, vice-chairman of the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council, said the move will strengthen investment-led development by formulating a dedicated AI strategy for the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30) period.

Pang said the efforts will focus on accelerating the construction and efficient, intensive use of information and communication networks, the nationwide integrated computing power network and domestically developed intelligent computing clusters, so that effective investment can better support high-quality industrial growth.

As AI is a major driving force behind the new round of technological revolution and industrial transformation, the commission convened dedicated meetings for two consecutive years to fully advance the "AI Plus" initiative among central SOEs, achieving a series of positive results in key areas such as applications, computing power, data and models.

According to SASAC, central SOEs have focused on priority sectors, including energy, manufacturing and telecommunications, to develop more than 1,000 application scenarios.

For example, China Southern Power Grid has used AI to enable intelligent power transition and fault prediction, while central SOEs from the automotive sector are piloting the use of intelligent robots on factory floors.

CRRC Corp, China's largest rolling stock manufacturer by production volume, has produced industry-specific models to push smarter development of rail transit equipment, making AI an important driver of the transformation and upgrade of traditional industries.

Pang said that in the next phase, central SOEs will be encouraged to deepen scenario-based innovation, with a focus on priority areas such as embodied intelligence, including humanoid and industrial robots, as well as energy and power.

"The government will support central SOEs to establish 'AI Plus' industrial communities, broaden access to application scenarios, and develop flagship projects, sector-wide use cases and high-value pilot applications," he added.

In 2025, China's central SOEs reported total assets exceeding 95 trillion yuan ($13.68 trillion) and combined profits of 2.5 trillion yuan. They also invested 1.1 trillion yuan in research and development, marking the fourth consecutive year that spending in this category topped 1 trillion yuan, data from the SASAC showed.

Chen Wenjian, chairman of China Railway Group, a Beijing-headquartered railway and infrastructure project contractor, said the group will sharpen its focus on integrating technological and industrial innovation to strengthen core competitiveness during the 15th Five-Year Plan period.

"We will focus on upgrading traditional sectors rather than simply expanding capacity," said Chen.

"In the construction business, this means accelerating a shift toward smarter, greener and more integrated models, with AI deployed to deliver practical, scenario-based applications across our projects."

State Grid Corporation of China also plans to invest up to 4 trillion yuan in fixed assets between 2026 and 2030, a 40 percent increase from the previous five-year plan.

The power utility group said that part of the investment will be allocated to enhancing digital and AI infrastructure to underpin long-term growth.