China's industry minister Li Lecheng on Thursday led a roundtable meeting with small- and medium-sized enterprises operating in the new materials sector, urging those firms to step up innovation and to push for faster technical breakthroughs in crucial materials, according to a statement from the ministry.
Li stressed that modernizing and upgrading the new materials industry holds strategic importance for what the ministry described as China's high-quality development agenda. He outlined a set of priority areas that the ministry will emphasize going forward: advanced basic materials, critical strategic materials, cutting-edge new materials, and initiatives combining artificial intelligence with materials research - summarized internally as "AI + Materials."
The ministry said it would intensify policy coordination and bolster the supply of talent, while promoting collaborative innovation that spans the full value chain. Those measures are intended to support firms' research efforts and encourage cooperative approaches from raw inputs through to end uses.
Representatives from eight enterprises were present at the roundtable. The statement did not disclose the names of those companies.
During the meeting, Li urged the attending firms to lift the degree of self-reliance and security in key materials that serve critical sectors, and to increase investment in research and development. The ministry framed these steps as necessary to strengthen domestic capabilities in core technologies within advanced materials.
The announcement reiterated a broader policy direction: China is pursuing stronger capabilities in key core technologies in target areas, with an emphasis on advanced materials, in the context of intensifying competition with the United States. The ministry's message centers on building domestic technological strength through focused innovation, talent development and coordinated support across public and private actors in the sector.
Summary of the session
- Li Lecheng chaired a roundtable with SMEs in the new materials sector, calling for faster breakthroughs and stronger innovation.
- The ministry highlighted advanced basic materials, critical strategic materials, cutting-edge new materials and "AI + Materials" as priority areas.
- Authorities pledged enhanced policy coordination, talent supply and end-to-end collaborative innovation; eight firms attended but were not named.