New growth drivers have been accelerating their expansion across China this year, steadily strengthening their role in propelling the economy forward.

Data from the National Development and Reform Commission shows that in the first three quarters, breakthroughs were achieved in core technologies for integrated circuits, cumulative global downloads of AI open-source large models surpassed 10 billion, humanoid robot shipments accounted for more than 90% of the global total, outbound technology licensing in innovative drugs reached US$130 billion—close to the full-year figure for last year—and the penetration rate of new energy vehicles hit 53.6%.

The weight of these figures lies not only in the growth rates themselves but also in the structural shifts they represent. While traditional industries are still climbing steep slopes in their transformation and upgrading, new growth drivers have gradually taken up the banner of driving growth.

The novelty of these new drivers first lies in the accelerated pace of new industries. From laboratory to assembly line, from blueprint to shelf, the innovation chain is becoming increasingly smooth. The hard-won breakthroughs in integrated circuits are the result of years of perseverance; domestically developed open-source large models have taken the world by storm, with Chinese models occupying the top ranks of global mainstream large model usage charts—a testament to China's real computing power strength; humanoid robots have stepped off exhibition stands and into production lines, with more than nine out of every ten humanoid robots shipped globally coming from Chinese manufacturers, transitioning from concept hype to real shipments according to some institutional statistics; and a batch of pharmaceutical companies including CSPC Pharmaceutical Group Ltd (HKEX: 1093), Hengrui Pharmaceuticals, and Innovent Biologics have licensed their proprietary pipelines to multinational corporations, earning real capital and global recognition in return.

Behind all this is the continuous increase in research and development investment and the dedication of researchers willing to sit on cold benches. Innovation is not empty talk—it is the most concrete form of productivity and an important golden key to opening the door to international markets.

The novelty of these new drivers also lies in the increasingly stable new structure. In the first three quarters, the value added of high-tech manufacturing and equipment manufacturing maintained relatively rapid growth, the value added of the service sector grew 5.2% year on year, and the share of manufacturing value added in GDP reached 25.7%, up 0.6 percentage points from the same period last year. This increase in share indicates that the foundation of manufacturing has been further consolidated. The scale of the data industry exceeded 6 trillion yuan, with data products and services highly related to artificial intelligence accounting for more than 70%, and more than 480,000 data enterprises nationwide—data elements are becoming a new engine driving development.

Old growth drivers are still contributing, while new ones are growing more robust. The Chinese economy, like a large vehicle, is shifting from competing on resources and labor to competing on innovation and quality. With the structure changed, the foundation is more solid, and the momentum for development is naturally stronger.

As growth drivers change, so do the tangible benefits. New growth drivers are not intangible concept stocks—they land squarely in everyday life. Today, more than one out of every two new cars sold is a new energy vehicle, charging stations are being built more densely, vehicle usage costs have dropped, and travel has become more convenient; humanoid robots have entered workshops, with frontline production experience embedded into intelligent systems, making factories smarter and more efficient; and more innovative drugs have obtained overseas approvals, also pushing domestic patients toward better medicines.

What new growth drivers bring is not just numbers on the books but hope in daily life. Only when ordinary people can truly touch and feel these benefits do these drivers have real value.

Today's new growth drivers are tomorrow's new advantages; today's value is tomorrow's innovation content. The steeper the climb, the more new growth drivers are needed to shoulder the load and carry the weight. Let the sparks of innovation burn brighter, let the engines of new growth drivers spin faster, and the path of China's high-quality economic development will become broader and brighter.

The blueprint has been drawn, and the time for striving is now. With hundreds of millions of people working together, there is no obstacle that cannot be overcome and no mountain that cannot be scaled. With new engines roaring to life and new growth drivers surging forward, China's economy, like a great ship, will surely cleave through the waves, sail steadily and far, and reach an even broader blue ocean.