China’s Vice-Premier Zhang Guoqing, a one-time weapons executive, targets country’s manufacturing sector

During inspection of major manufacturers in Shanghai, Zhang urged speedy value-adding and faster breakthroughs in bottleneck technologies

Zhang is also top administrator for state-owned enterprises, top regulator of industrial safety and top coordinator of China’s disaster response and relief

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Vice-Premier Zhang Guoqing carried out an inspection of major manufacturing companies in Shanghai this week. Photo: Xinhua

Published: 3:11pm, 7 Jun 2023Updated: 4:00pm, 7 Jun 2023

Vice-premier Zhang Guoqing, who once headed a weapons supplier, has weighed in on China’s advanced manufacturing for the first time, signalling the role he will take in the sector for the next five years.

During his inspection of major manufacturing companies in Shanghai this week, Zhang urged them to move up the value chain faster and speed up breakthroughs in key bottleneck technologies, state media reported on Tuesday.

The official trip and his speech indicate that Zhang, a top technocrat and defence sector veteran, is now Beijing’s point man, taking charge of China’s ambition to become the global leader in advanced manufacturing, a key area into which the world’s second largest economy is pouring billions of dollars.

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Without mentioning specific company names, state-run Xinhua news agency said Zhang had visited companies in the fields of satellite navigation, commercial aircraft, new energy vehicles, heavy gas turbines, integrated circuits, digital instrument control systems and large special-purpose ships between Sunday and Tuesday.

His itinerary is a clue to some of Beijing’s priorities for future industrial development policies.

Zhang Guoqing, pictured in 2017, is promoting breakthroughs, innovation and collaboration with researchers, to China’s advanced manufacturing sector. Photo: Reuters

A statement from the State Power Investment Corporation said Zhang visited the China United Heavy-Duty Gas Turbine Technology Co and the State Nuclear Self-Instrumentation System Engineering Co, checking on the development of heavy gas turbines and digital instrument and control systems for third-generation nuclear power plants.

Hailing advanced manufacturing as “the foundation” of China’s strength, Zhang called for a “better combination of effective markets and active government, and continued efforts to optimise [the country’s] industrial policies and ecosystem”, according to Xinhua.

China’s Vice-Premier Zhang Guoqing, a one-time weapons executive, targets country’s manufacturing sector

During inspection of major manufacturers in Shanghai, Zhang urged speedy value-adding and faster breakthroughs in bottleneck technologies Zhang is also top administrator for state-owned enterprises, top regulator of industrial safety and top coordinator of China’s disaster response and relief

During inspection of major manufacturers in Shanghai, Zhang urged speedy value-adding and faster breakthroughs in bottleneck technologies

Zhang is also top administrator for state-owned enterprises, top regulator of industrial safety and top coordinator of China’s disaster response and relief