Technology driving transformation and upgrading of China's manufacturing sector

The transformation and upgrading of China's manufacturing sector rely on the deeper integration of digitalization and intelligent technologies as well as sustained technological innovation, Nan Cunhui, a member of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, said.

Nan, who is also chairman of Chint Group, shared the story of China's manufacturing transformation through the lens of his company's four decades of development during a group interview ahead of the second plenary meeting of the fourth session of the 14th CPPCC National Committee at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, on Saturday.

The rapid global expansion of artificial intelligence computing capacity in recent years has triggered explosive demand for transformers, making them increasingly hard to secure, Nan said.

Last year, the company's transformer exports surged 71.4 percent year-on-year, with factory orders already scheduled through 2027 — growth that he attributed to "continuous innovation".

"In Chint's factories, the entire process from order intake to product delivery is now driven by data and algorithms, which has helped reduce overall operating costs by 20 percent while improving efficiency by 50 percent," Nan said.

At the same time, the company is leveraging AI and cloud platforms to develop industry-specific large models, encouraging supply chain partners to carry out digital upgrades and supporting the growth of small and medium-sized enterprises.

"Behind every piece of production equipment are hundreds or even thousands of supplier companies working in close coordination," he said.

According to Nan, China's strong industrial and supply chain ecosystem — featuring specialized division of labor and close collaboration among enterprises — has played an important role in supporting manufacturing upgrades.

"With the guidance of national strategies and the advantages of China's vast domestic market, the country's manufacturing transformation has broad prospects and a promising future," Nan said.