The character "New" stands as the core keyword for China's economic development in 2025. This year witnessed fresh advancements in innovation-driven growth, industrial upgrading, digital empowerment, and green transformation. The nation's technological prowess, industrial innovation capacity, digital penetration, and green leadership have become the fundamental drivers for developing new quality productive forces. How can we interpret the substantial value embodied in these "Four Forces"?
In 2025, China's technological hard power continued to leap forward, with total national expenditure on research and experimental development reaching 3.9262 trillion yuan, maintaining its position as the world's second-largest for many consecutive years. China became the first country globally to possess over 5 million domestic valid invention patents, while its PCT international patent applications led the world for the sixth consecutive year.
The momentum for industrial innovation in China accumulated significantly throughout 2025. The low-altitude economy soared, embodied intelligence accelerated its development, and the output of civilian drones and industrial robots increased by 37.3% and 28% year-on-year, respectively. The number of smart factories grew steadily, and the integrated application of the industrial internet achieved comprehensive coverage across 41 major industrial categories.
Digital penetration saw a marked enhancement in 2025. The value-added output of large-scale digital product manufacturing grew by 9.3% compared to the previous year, while the value-added of information transmission, software, and information technology services surged by 11.1%. New consumption models and scenarios rapidly expanded, driving online retail sales growth of 8.6%. Infrastructure for new technologies like 5G, gigabit optical networks, and the Internet of Things was steadily advanced.
Green leadership was fully demonstrated across the board in 2025. Electricity generation from clean energy sources—including hydropower, nuclear power, wind power, and solar power—by large-scale industries increased by 8.8% year-on-year. Output of green energy equipment and green materials experienced rapid growth. Annual production and sales of new energy vehicles each surpassed 16 million units. Furthermore, energy consumption per unit of value-added showed significant year-on-year declines in major energy-intensive industries such as building materials, steel, and non-ferrous metals.