Daily Times

By Yan Huan, Xu Hailin, People’s Daily

The 2026 Mobile World Congress (MWC) was recently held in Barcelona, Spain. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the world’s premier mobile communications industry event being held in Barcelona.

Under the theme “The IQ Era,” MWC focused on intelligent infrastructure, AI connectivity and integration, enterprise-level AI applications, AI ecosystem collaboration, inclusive technology, and innovation-driven transformation.

The event brought together around 2,900 exhibitors from more than 200 countries and regions and featured over 100 national, regional and thematic technology pavilions. A China Pavilion was established for the first time this year.

Leading Chinese technology firms including China Mobile, China Telecom, China Unicom, Huawei, ZTE, Honor, and Xiaomi participated prominently, showcasing their latest technological achievements in mobile communications and AI.

Chinese exhibitors presented a variety of innovative products. At the booth of ZTE, a plush toy named Mashu drew crowds of visitors. With its round, adorable shape and big blinking eyes, the toy has a friendly appeal. Powered by advanced AI technology, Mashu can not only understand human speech and recognize emotions, but also learn continuously through daily interaction, gradually gaining insight into users’ needs and preferences while providing emotional companionship.

Honor unveiled a “robot phone” equipped with a flexible gimbal camera capable of auto-rotation and precise subject tracking. Lenovo’s YOGA concept device demonstrated rapid conversion of 2D images into 3D models, viewable on a glasses-free 3D display, aiding creators in visualizing depth and spatial relationships.

Alibaba’s Qwen smart glasses integrated real-time translation and bone-conduction audio, highlighting the potential of AI in lightweight wearables. Xiaomi showcased its comprehensive “human-car-home” ecosystem, including a concept supercar, flagship smartphones, and smart home products.

“AI is expanding the boundaries of its applications in everyday life. It is no longer confined to optimizing device functions but has evolved into a key tool for enhancing user experience and coordinating services ,” said Wang Xiang, chief strategy officer of ZTE.

In the AI-native smartphones launched by the company last year, AI functions as an “intelligent agent,” directly connecting different applications and enabling cross-platform service orchestration. Users simply need to express their intention to travel, and the system can automatically generate a complete itinerary covering transportation, accommodation and dining.

This year’s MWC also highlighted the ongoing evolution towards 6G technologies As of January 2026, 374 operators worldwide had deployed 5G networks. Supported by extensive network coverage, 5G-Advanced applications are accelerating, with a global user base reaching 70 million.

At the event, numerous companies showcased their visions for future networks from multiple perspectives. Huawei launched a full lineup of indoor and outdoor products for the U6GHz spectrum — the upper segment of the 6-GHz band. Offering ultra-large bandwidth, U6GHz demonstrates high capacity, enhanced user experience and low latency, delivering stable and reliable connectivity for AI applications. Huawei’s U6GHz solutions fully support the transition toward 6G, helping telecom operators prepare early for next-generation infrastructure.

Humanoid robots were increasingly visible across exhibition booths, making “embodied intelligence” another buzzword. An official from the Arab Information and Communication Technologies Organization remarked: “Many of the products displayed by Chinese companies are truly impressive. China prioritizes the development of innovative technologies such as AI, and its vast market and supportive policies keep fueling technological progress.”

“Chinese companies have brought many innovative technologies and products,” said Vivek Badrinath, director general of the GSMA, the event’s organizer. “Driven by the Chinese market scale, as well as the speed and determination with which these technologies are deployed among consumers and enterprises, technological development in China is reshaping how we connect with the world.”

Badrinath added that the first China Pavilion at the congress for the first time underscored the global recognition and focus on China’s scientific and technological innovation, .

Chinese technology companies are continuously raising the profile and expanding the reach of “Made in China” on the global stage through a combination of hardware innovation, AI empowerment and ecosystem integration.

Lara Dewar, chief marketing officer of the GSMA, noted that the communications industry has never stood still, and no company or country can progress in isolation. Only international cooperation can truly unlock its potential.

“China has already made important contributions in this regard,” Dewar said. “At the MWC, we often discuss the possibilities of the future. In China, I see the future already taking shape.”

By People’s Daily reporters

Scene 1: Dawn at Ningbo-Zhoushan Port(5:00 AM)

As dawn breaks over Ningbo-Zhoushan Port in east China’s Zhejiang province, the sea breeze carries the sounds of industry awakening. “Let’s begin!” directs a foreman. A massive bucket-wheel reclaimer swings into action, processing iron ore recently arrived from Brazil. The ore travels along conveyor belts to a loading terminal, where a ship loader precisely transfers the cargo into an ore carrier’s hold.

Ningbo-Zhoushan Port, the world’s busiest cargo port for 17 consecutive years, handled over 1.4 billion tons last year. Its daily throughput averages approximately 3.9 million tons — equivalent to  moving 45 tons every second. This activity reflects a broader reality: across China, more than 2,900 berths capable of handling vessels over 10,000 tons facilitate a constant flow of goods, linking China’s economy with global markets.

China’s economic engine hums with remarkable momentum.

Within a single minute: China generates more than 200 million yuan ($29.13) in GDP and over 80 million yuan in goods imports and exports.

Within an hour: more than 2 million garments are produced, and over 30,000 kilograms of crops are harvested by intelligent combine harvesters.

Within a day: China smelts more than 3.9 million tons of steel and manufactures over 90,000 vehicles.

During the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025), the Chinese economy achieved four consecutive leaps with an average annual growth rate of 5.4 percent, the highest among major global economies.

Scene 2: Innovation Relay in the Yangtze River Delta (2:00 PM)

A collaborative push in humanoid robotics technology unfolds across the Yangtze River Delta. At Shanghai Jiao Tong University, associate research fellow Yan Weixin from the Institute of Robotics spreads his palm, grips a test tube, draws liquid and gently shakes it. Nearby, a humanoid robotic arm mimics every subtle movement he does.

Two hours away in Suzhou, east China’s Jiangsu province, Li Qian, deputy general manager of Leaderdrive, a manufacturer specializing in precision robotic components, is examining a harmonic reducer used in the elbow joint of a humanoid robot, exploring ways to make it lighter and more efficient.

As the world’s largest producer of robots, China holds more than 190,000 valid patents related to robotics, accounting for roughly 2/3 of the global total.

The rapid development of China’s humanoid robotics industry is driven by the country’s most complete industrial system in the world, its vast application scenarios, and reliable energy supply, according to Qiao Hong, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

In a day, China’s space station orbits the Earth 16 times, enabling astronauts to witness 16 magnificent sunrises and sunsets.

In a day, China’s Supercomputing Network processes more than one million API calls.

In a day, thousands of invention patents are granted across the country.

In 2025, China’s R&D investment accounted for 2.8 percent of the country’s GDP, and the country entered the global top 10 in the global innovation index for the first time. This just demonstrates the powerful vitality of China.

Scene 3: Evening Vibrancy – Guangzhou & Shanghai (6:00 PM)

Along Guangzhou’s Pearl River banks, crowds gather. “Look — the ‘Slim Waist’!” On a sightseeing boat, a foreign visitor named Nazer and his family point excitedly at the brightly lit Canton Tower, one of the iconic landmarks of Guangzhou in south China’s Guangdong province. From savoring Cantonese roasted meats at local eateries to enjoying a cup of aromatic coffee, the Nazer family has woven themselves into daily life in China.

Meanwhile, at a community canteen on Jiangyuan Road in Shanghai, the aroma of freshly prepared dishes fills the air. “Regular customer” Sun Yuhua walks in hand-in-hand with her husband.

“With affordable, home-style cooking, we feel good about our meal, and that reassures our children,” Sun says.

Behind the vibrant glow of city life lies the resilience and potential of China’s economy, demonstrating how the country’s openness brings shared opportunities to the world.

Over the past five years, China has connected every county in formerly impoverished regions with expressways, paved roads reached every village, and telecommunications signals covered every corner. These achievements have solidified poverty eradication gains, proving to the world that poverty is not an insurmountable challenge.

Since the beginning of this year, senior foreign leaders have visited China in succession to explore business opportunities. Meanwhile, foreign tourists have flocked to China to celebrate the Spring Festival, experience traditional customs and witness firsthand a prosperous, open and inclusive nation.

In 2025, China imported 18.48 trillion yuan worth of goods, maintaining its position as the world’s second-largest import market for 17 consecutive years. Cherries from Chile, durians from Malaysia, flour from Kazakhstan, and beauty products from France–the world is sharing the dividends of the growing Chinese market.

In 2025, China received more than 150 million inbound foreign visitors, who spent over $130 billion in the country. China has granted unilateral visa exemption to 50 countries, while transit visa-free arrangements now cover 55 countries. The experience of “becoming Chinese” has become a new global trend, offering people around the world fresh enjoyment and cultural resonance.

During the 14th Five-Year Plan period, China contributed around 30 percent of global economic growth.

“The attractiveness of China to foreign investment lies not only in the enormous size of its market but also in the high quality of that market,” said Jiang Ying, chair of Deloitte China. Increasingly, foreign enterprises are treating China as a source of innovation and research and development, using innovations developed in China to serve global markets.

Every 24 hours of China’s economy injects new momentum into global development.

Looking ahead to the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-2030), one conclusion is becoming ever clearer amid the uncertainties of the global landscape: despite a complex international environment, China’s economy will continue moving toward higher quality and new growth drivers, offering the most stable, reliable and positive energy to a world navigating turbulence and changes.

By Zhong Sheng, People’s Daily

On March 13, a piece of news quickly made global headlines. China’s Ministry of Commerce announced that the sixth round of China-U.S. economic and trade consultations will soon be held in France.

This will mark a new round of talks under the framework of the China-U.S. economic and trade consultation mechanism, following previous meetings in Geneva, London, Stockholm, Madrid and Kuala Lumpur.

This year is widely viewed as pivotal for China-U.S. relations. Whether bilateral economic and trade ties can continue the stabilizing momentum that the world hopes to see makes this round of consultations particularly significant.

China’s “two sessions,” the annual sessions of the country’s top legislature, the National People’s Congress, and top political advisory body, the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, have just concluded. A key outcome of the “two sessions” this year was the review and approval of a draft outline of the 15th Five-Year Plan(2026-2030). The document charts China’s development blueprint for the next five years and also presents the international community with a new list of opportunities.

The plan outlines China’s commitment to coordinating foreign investment attraction with outbound investment. This aims to cultivate new advantages in international trade and two-way investment cooperation, enhance efforts to attract and utilize foreign investment, and promote international industrial and investment collaboration.

As China enters the 15th Five-Year Plan period, the country will steadily advance high-quality development and remain firmly committed to expanding high-level opening up. In doing so, it will continue to unlock the potential of its enormous market and provide businesses from around the world with new opportunities.

American companies are, naturally, among the partners welcomed by China. This is one reason why the “two sessions” have drawn broad attention across the United States. As a report on the website of CNN noted, a message coming from Beijing is that China’s push for innovation-driven development will benefit the world.

American businesses are eager to seize the new opportunities arising from China-U.S. cooperation. Whether these opportunities can materialize, however, largely depends on how the U.S. government handles its economic and trade relationship with China.

Recently, U.S. trade policy has been undergoing a reset, yet its protectionist tendencies remain unchanged, adding fresh uncertainty to the global economic and trade order.

Last month, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that certain tariffs imposed by the United States were unlawful. Since then, citing Section 301 of the U.S. Trade Act of 1974, the U.S. side has launched new investigations into 16 major economies and 60 economies respectively, including China, on the grounds of so-called “overcapacity” and the alleged failure to take action against so-called “forced labor.”

The news has triggered widespread concern, and within the United States itself it has also drawn considerable criticism. The reason is simple: American companies have long borne the brunt of tariff shocks.

Research by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York indicated that about 90 percent of the “tariff costs” in the United States in 2025 were borne by American consumers and businesses. A report by the JPMorganChase Institute likewise said that mid-sized U.S. companies have been hit particularly hard by tariffs, with their monthly tariff expenditures now tripling previous levels.

Whether to uphold openness and cooperation or resort to protectionism — this question once again confronts the United States. China’s answer remains consistent: the essence of China-U.S. economic and trade relations is mutual benefit and win-win cooperation. The two sides should enable each other’s success and pursue common development, rather than impose artificial constraints or tie their own hands.

The stabilization of China-U.S. economic and trade relations has not come easily, and this momentum should not be undermined lightly. Over the past year, the economic and trade teams of the two countries have held five rounds of consultations. Despite twists and turns, the two sides ultimately returned to the right track of resolving differences through dialogue, sparing the world economy from a potential storm.

Through both friction and dialogue, valuable experience has been gained in managing economic and trade differences. Given the immense scale and scope of China-U.S. economic and trade ties, disagreements and frictions in specific areas are inevitable.

When facing such issues, both sides should uphold the principles of equality, mutual respect and mutual benefit, focus on the big picture, and not exaggerate isolated issues. Both sides should look at the overall interests and take a long-term perspective, ensuring that economic and trade ties continue to serve as a ballast and engine for China-U.S. relations, rather than becoming stumbling blocks or sources of confrontation.

As the new round of consultations approaches, China’s position is clear: China has always been committed to properly resolving differences through consultations on an equal footing and will never compromise its legitimate rights and interests in exchange for concessions. Should any action substantially harm China’s legitimate development interests, China has ample policy tools and response measures at its disposal and will resolutely take countermeasures.

In the long run, China’s development and rejuvenation are not contradictory to the United States’ pursuit of making itself great again. Both China and the United States are major countries; neither  can change the other side, but they can change the way they interact. Upholding mutual respect, safeguarding the bottom line of peaceful coexistence, and striving for a future of win-win cooperation serve the interests of both peoples and meet the expectations of the world. The new round of China-U.S. economic and trade consultations should become the starting point for positive and constructive economic engagement between the two countries in the new year.

By Wang Zheng, People’s Daily

China’s new energy vehicle (NEV) industry is accelerating its shift from rapid expansion to higher-quality growth, driven by breakthroughs in key technologies such as intelligent driving systems and advanced batteries.

In early March, Chinese companies unveiled a new round of innovations in the core technologies underpinning smart, connected NEVs.

On March 4, Chinese technology giant Huawei launched the world’s first dual-optical-path imaging-grade 896-line LiDAR system under its Qiankun intelligent driving solution.

Compared with conventional 192-line LiDAR, the new system offers four times the resolution and addresses a long-standing industry challenge — wide-angle sensors that capture the full scene but miss details, and telephoto sensors that capture details but sacrifice field of view.

This breakthrough enables vehicles traveling at 120 km/h to reliably identify small obstacles, such as 14 cm-high stones, from 120 meters away.

The following day (March 5th), BYD, China’s leading new energy vehicle manufacturer, unveiled the second generation of its Blade Battery. The upgraded battery delivers what the company calls a breakthrough flash-charging experience: under normal temperatures, it can charge from 10 percent to 70 percent in just five minutes and from 10 percent to 97 percent in nine minutes.

Even at temperatures as low as minus 30 degrees Celsius, the charging process takes only about three minutes longer than under normal conditions. The new battery also increases energy density by five percent and supports a driving range exceeding 1,000 kilometers.

From LiDAR systems for intelligent driving to next-generation power batteries, Chinese companies have achieved fresh breakthroughs in key technologies for smart NEVs in the first quarter of 2026.

How can China’s NEV industry further accelerate its transformation during the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-2030)?

China’s 2026 government work report emphasizes building a modernized industrial system and create new forms of smart economy. Automotive experts noted that China’s auto industry is entering a critical stage, shifting from scale expansion toward higher quality and efficiency. Leveraging its industrial chain strengths and economies of scale, the sector is expected to optimize product structures, refine industrial layouts and strengthen brand value.

According to Wang Jianqing, chief master technician at the vehicle assembly plant of Dongfeng Trucks, a subsidiary of Chinese automobile group Dongfeng Motor Corporation, the industry is moving toward greater intelligence, greener technologies and deeper industrial integration.

He stressed the importance of strengthening fundamental research, investing in cutting-edge technologies, and enhancing industry resilience to support this shift.

Vehicles equipped with the Geely’s Qianli Haohan intelligent assisted-driving system have delivered notable performance results. Recent data shows that the system has accumulated over 110 million kilometers of assisted-driving mileage, equivalent to circling the Earth about 2,750 times, while its active collision-avoidance function has prevented 225,000 potential accidents.

“Safety is the core of any intelligent driving system,” said Li Chuanhai, president of the Geely Automobile Research Institute. He said that in 2026, Geely plans to introduce Level-3 high-speed autonomous driving and Level-4 low-speed autonomous functions where regulations permit, while steadily advancing the deployment of Robotaxi vehicles.

China’s push toward higher levels of autonomous driving gained regulatory momentum in late 2025. The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology granted China’s first Level-3 autonomous driving vehicle permits, marking a transition from technological testing to the early stages of large-scale commercial application.

Feng Xingya, chairman of GAC Group, a major Chinese automaker, has urged the establishment of a nationally unified standards and evaluation system for autonomous driving. He proposed opening key testing scenarios such as highways and urban expressways to support testing and commercialization of Level-3 autonomous driving for consumer vehicles, while expanding pilot applications of Level-4 autonomous driving in logistics and mobility services.

Yin Tongyue, chairman of Chery Holding Group, another major Chinese automobile manufacturer, has emphasized the importance of data security in intelligent driving systems. He suggested establishing standardized procedures for data collection, transmission and use, ensuring privacy protection while enabling large-scale Level-3 deployment.

Inside a vehicle assembly plant of mobility technology company Magna International in Graz, Austria, engineering teams from China and Europe are conducting intensive adjustments around production rhythms, process validation and quality inspection. The preparations are aimed at the mid-March rollout of the Aion UT, produced by GAC Aion, an NEV brand of GAC Group.

Following the earlier production of the Aion V, the Aion UT will become the second GAC model to be manufactured locally at the plant.

According to Ma Haiyang, an executive of GAC Group, cooperation with Magna International allows the company to integrate more efficiently with Europe’s mature engineering systems and local supply chains, accelerating the implementation of localized production.

“GAC is steadily advancing local research and development, procurement and manufacturing,” Ma said. “By developing products according to European standards, we aim to better understand and meet the needs of the European market and provide high-quality products and services for local consumers.”

China exported over 7 million units of automobiles in 2025, with NEV exports reaching 2.615 million units, more than doubling year on year and highlighting the industry’s growing international competitiveness.

Despite progress, challenges remain. Limited overseas operational capacity and risks related to global industrial and supply chains continue to test Chinese automakers as they expand abroad.

For Chery Holding Group, globalization means integrating more deeply into local markets. “Our global strategy is to be rooted where we operate and contribute to local development,” said Yin. He noted that Chery’s project in Spain has not only enabled localized vehicle production but also created more than 1,500 local jobs.

“During the 15th Five-Year Plan period, we hope to replicate this model in more parts of the world,” Yin said. “Our goal is to ensure that our products and pricing are acceptable to local consumers, our business models are welcomed by local governments and societies, and our development approach remains environmentally sustainable.”

By He Yin, People’s Daily

During recent China’s “two sessions,” the annual meetings of the country’s top legislature, the National People’s Congress, and top political advisory body, the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, how the country will elevate the quality and level of trade and investment cooperation as it advances high-level opening up has become a major focus of international attention.

In an increasingly turbulent global landscape marked by economic uncertainty, China’s capacity for long-term stability makes it an increasingly vital destination for international business.

This appeal is reflected in the numbers: more than 70,000 foreign-invested enterprises were established across China in 2025, a year-on-year increase of 19.1 percent. This trend underscores a clear and consistent reality: China remains, and will continue to be, an attractive, secure, and promising market for foreign investment.

Partnering with China means embracing opportunity. Believing in China reflects optimism about the future. And investing in China is, ultimately, an investment in tomorrow.

Stability breeds long-term confidence. France’s Schneider Electric has been present in the Chinese market for nearly four decades. From an initial team of just 10 employees, the company has grown to establish five R&D centers, an AI innovation laboratory, and 30 factories and logistics centers across the country. It is China’s developmental stability that has enabled such long-term planning and sustained growth.

Schneider’s experience exemplifies a shared commitment to long-termism. China’s own consistent, long-range development approach increasingly shapes the strategic outlook of foreign enterprises operating there. By aligning with China’s five-year plans, monitoring policy signals, and assessing industrial prospects, many foreign companies are translating the conviction that “investing in China is investing in the future” into concrete action.

Stability also nurtures fertile ground for innovation. China is firmly advancing scientific and technological innovation, while new quality productive forces are taking shape at a faster pace. As a result, more and more foreign enterprises regard China as a “gym” where they can strengthen their innovative capacity and competitiveness.

Germany’s Volkswagen has accompanied China’s automotive industry through decades of growth. Today, the company works closely with Chinese partners in mutual learning, joint innovation, and collaborative research. The combination of China’s speed and German experience, as well as Chinese wisdom and German craftsmanship, is injecting new momentum into the development of the new-energy vehicles industry.

Stability carries the aspirations of entrepreneurs. China’s expanding opening up continues to attract entrepreneurs from around the world. Statistics show that in Yiwu, east China’s Zhejiang province, more than 30,000 foreign merchants are active every day, and the number of registered foreign-invested market entities has exceeded 11,000. Yiwu, known as the “world’s supermarket,” has also become a vibrant international community marked by diversity and integration.

Danish entrepreneur Simon Lichtenberg has run a business in Shanghai for more than 30 years. He has also actively participated in consultations organized by grassroots legislative outreach offices, offering suggestions on the draft revision of the Company Law.

His story illustrates how a safe and friendly environment, together with an open, inclusive and harmonious social and cultural atmosphere, further strengthens foreign investors’ confidence in building their future in China.

The growing scale of investment and the upgrading of cooperation models reflect foreign investors’ deepening understanding of the opportunities China offers. From recognizing the enormous potential of China’s market to appreciating the institutional strengths behind its unique appeal, many in the international business community increasingly see China as an irreplaceable partner.

The draft outline of the 15th Five-Year Plan proposes to coordinate foreign investment attraction and outbound investment to cultivate new strengths in international trade and two-way investment cooperation, make greater efforts to attract and utilize foreign investment, and promote international industrial and investment cooperation. The stability of these policy directions, rooted in practical experience, will continue to unleash new momentum for future development.

Together, China and foreign enterprises have written a story of mutual benefit and win-win cooperation, forming an important chapter in the history of economic globalization.

As the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-2030) begins, China will remain committed to opening up, cooperation, and win-win outcomes. By steadily expanding institutional opening up, China will create an even more enabling environment and broader space for foreign enterprises, while continuing to provide new opportunities for the world through its own development.

By People’s Daily reporters

China achieved a significant milestone in 2025, with total electricity consumption exceeding 10 trillion kilowatt-hours for the first time. This figure surpasses the combined electricity use of the United States, Germany, Japan, and India. Power consumption serves as a clear indicator of China’s economic trajectory.

Innovation and Green Transition Drive Manufacturing Power Demand

At present, Dishang Kenny, a garment company in Weihai, east China’s Shandong province, is racing to keep up with a surge in orders. On the factory floor, automated cutting machines slice through fabric with precision, automated guided vehicles shuttle materials across floors, and intelligent hanging systems assist workers with sewing.

“Since resuming work after the Spring Festival holiday, our electricity load has remained high, with power consumption rising about 15 percent year on year,” said Zhu Lihua, chairman of Dishang Group, the parent company of Dishang Kenny.

According to Zhu, after adopting a digital management system, the company’s production efficiency has improved by more than 30 percent compared with traditional operations.

As traditional industries accelerate their move toward higher quality, emerging industries pursue innovation and the green transition gathers pace, the rapid growth of new quality productive forces is pushing up electricity demand in the industrial sector.

In Wuhu, east China’s Anhui province, industrial robots undergo their final tests before deployment at the manufacturing and delivery center of EFORT Intelligent Robot Co, Ltd. Robots twist, stretch and wave their arms as engineers carry out performance checks.

“Our production in the first quarter is expected to grow by about 30 percent year on year,” said Zhang Wei, the company’s vice president. Data from State Grid Anhui Electric Power Company show that electricity consumption by robot-manufacturing-related enterprises in Anhui rose 26.15 percent year on year in January and February.

According to Xu Lijin, chairman of Wuhu Robot Industry Development Group, the robot industry is rapidly emerging as a major growth driver in high-end equipment manufacturing as intelligent technologies advance and application scenarios expand.

“Six emerging sectors — including integrated circuits, aerospace, biomedicine, low-altitude economy, new energy storage and intelligent robotics — are expected to reach new levels of output by 2030,” he said. “These industries will become key engines driving growth in electricity demand.”

In 2025, electricity consumption by China’s high-tech and equipment manufacturing industries rose 6.4 percent year on year, three percentage points higher than the average growth rate of the manufacturing sector.

E-commerce and Tourism Spark Surging Power Use

As evening fell, the makerspace district in Lizu village of Yiwu, east China’s Zhejiang province glowed with lights. Livestream hosts were selling a range of local specialties including tie-dye products and farm produce in studios via livestream.

While consumers placed orders online, express delivery companies rushed to process shipments. On Feb. 26, Yiwu handled 56.3 million parcels in a single day, setting a new record.

“As consumer preferences become more personalized and quality-oriented, new consumption models such as livestream commerce have expanded rapidly. Here, international trade meets rural tourism, allowing the village to share the benefits of development,” said Fang Haolong, Party head of Lizu village.

During the first week after the Spring Festival holiday, electricity consumption in Zhejiang’s internet and related services sector reached 112 million kilowatt-hours, registering double-digit growth. Power use by the express delivery sector rose 5.2 percent, while electricity consumption in information transmission, software and IT services increased 11.9 percent, remaining at a high level.

“Consumption patterns are changing,” said Liu Cong, chairman of the Jiangsu Federation of Industry and Commerce. “Experiential and scenario-based consumption is gaining popularity. Cultural, tourism, performing arts and catering sectors are integrating more rapidly, while new consumption scenarios continue to emerge, stimulating spending and driving growth in related industries.”

Data, Computing Power and AI Fueling Electricity Boom

In Gui’an New Area in southwest China’s Guizhou province, one of China’s largest clusters of hyperscale data centers, construction of the 500-kilovolt Machang power transmission and transformation project, with a total investment of 510 million yuan (about $73.8 million), is entering its final stage.

Once completed, the project will provide 2 million kilowatts of power supply capacity, meeting the electricity needs of 26 large data centers and nearly 300,000 standard server racks.

“What drives AI is computing power, and what drives computing power is electricity,” said an executive of the China Electricity Council. China has made significant progress in building new infrastructure such as AI systems and 5G network, greatly boosting electricity demand in related sectors.

From 2021 to 2025, electricity consumption in the internet data services sector grew at an average annual rate of 35.9 percent.

Meanwhile, as the number of new energy vehicles continues to rise rapidly, China is accelerating the rollout of charging infrastructure nationwide. This not only addresses vehicle energy needs but also supports new consumption scenarios such as road trips and rural tourism.

By December 2025, China had built more than 20 million electric vehicle charging facilities, with the total expected to reach 28 million by the end of 2027. Investment in charging infrastructure has maintained strong growth, driving nearly 50 percent year-on-year growth in electricity consumption within the charging and battery-swapping sector in 2025.

China’s rise as a global electricity powerhouse has unfolded steadily over the past decade. In 2011, China became the world’s largest electricity producer in terms of installed power generation capacity and output, and its per capita electricity consumption surpassed the global average.

In 2015, the last group of people without access to electricity in China finally got connected to power use. In 2020, every village in China gained access to power supply for productive use. And in 2025, total electricity consumption across the country exceeded 10 trillion kilowatt-hours for the first time.

China has built the world’s largest clean power supply system, with an average power supply reliability rate exceeding 99.9 percent. Behind this full-strength electricity supply lies the vitality of countless households — and the steady rise of a nation.