Leverage Local Conditions to Develop New Quality Productive Forces

Leverage Local Conditions to Develop New Quality Productive Forces*

March-December 2024

I

We should focus on the primary goal of high-quality development and leverage local conditions to develop new quality productive forces. Confronted by a new revolution in science, technology and industry, we must seize opportunities, redouble our innovation efforts, cultivate and expand emerging industries, plan future industries in advance, and accelerate the development of a modern industrial system. Of course, cultivating new quality productive forces does not mean neglecting or abandoning traditional industries. There must be no headlong rush into emerging industries, which may cause industry bubbles. Nor should we allow the homogenization of development models. You local governments should base your work on reality and establish the new before decommissioning the old. You need to selectively promote new industries, new business models, and new growth drivers and provide differentiated guidance, based on local resources, industrial foundations, and research capabilities. You should also leverage new technologies to transform and upgrade traditional industries, and push for their high-end, intelligent and green development.

(from the speech at a deliberation session of the Jiangsu delegation to the Second Session of the 14th National People’s Congress, March 5, 2024)

II

It is crucial to transform and upgrade major manufacturing technologies, push for large-scale renewal of equipment, accelerate the transformation and upgrading of traditional industries, and cultivate strategic emerging industries that are advanced and competitive in the international arena. Greater efforts should be made to achieve major breakthroughs in science and technology, and to strengthen deeper integration of technological and industrial innovation. Based on this, you should further cultivate new business forms and models, and new growth drivers, and develop new quality productive forces appropriate to local conditions.

(from the speech during a visit to Chongqing, April 22-24, 2024)

III

You should focus on national strategic needs. This requires coordinated efforts to transform and upgrade traditional industries, cultivate and expand emerging industries, and plan future industries in advance. In addition, you need to fully exploit the integration of the real economy and the digital economy, and leverage local conditions to develop new quality productive forces.

(from the speech during a visit to Shandong Province, May 22-24, 2024)

IV

There can be more in-depth discussions about the meaning of new quality productive forces. Can we equate new quality productive forces with emerging industries? In fact, the transformation and upgrading of traditional industries also helps to boost new quality productive forces. Therefore, you must not restrict your efforts solely to the "new trio" of new energy vehicles, lithium-ion batteries, and photovoltaic products, nor should you rush into one particular industry and create a frenzy of interest that dissipates just as quickly. You must tailor your approaches to local conditions and develop industries with local characteristics.

(from the speech at a meeting attended by representatives of businesses and academia, held in Jinan, Shandong Province, May 23, 2024)

V

You need to strengthen the integration of technological and industrial innovation, and expedite the application of scientific and technological achievements. You should facilitate the transformation and upgrading of traditional industries, cultivate strategic emerging industries, and foster new quality productive forces suited to local conditions.

(from the speech during a visit to Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, June 19-20, 2024)

VI

You should leverage the national strength in strategic science and technology in your local development, strengthen international sci-tech cooperation, and introduce more open mechanisms to attract high-caliber talent. In addition, a multitiered system for sci-tech innovation should be put in place in order to push for breakthroughs in core technologies and promote application of scientific and technological advances. All these efforts should contribute to developing new quality productive forces best suited to local conditions.

(from the speech in response to the work report of the CPC Hainan Provincial Committee and Hainan Provincial Government, December 17, 2024)

* Excerpts from speeches made between March and December 2024.

(Not to be republished for any commercial or other purposes.)