China's Two Sessions: 'AI+' in Government Report, 'Intelligent Economy' Concept Introduced
During China's 2026 Two Sessions, 'AI+' was prominently featured in the government work report with the new concept of 'building a new form of intelligent economy' introduced for the first time, signaling AI has risen from a technology topic to a core national economic strategy. The 15th Five-Year Plan will accelerate scientific breakthroughs and deeply integrate AI into industrial and economic systems.
Background: "AI+" Formally Enters Government Work Report
During the 2026 Two Sessions, "AI+" was formally written into China's Government Work Report for the first time, elevating AI from an "emerging technology" to a "national strategic engine." The report proposes building a "new intelligent economy" through deep integration of AI with manufacturing, agriculture, healthcare, and education.
Core Analysis: Three Strategic Directions
Computing Infrastructure
The report calls for accelerating the "East Data West Computing" project with 20+ new AI computing centers. Domestic AI chips from Huawei Ascend and Cambricon receive explicit policy support to reduce NVIDIA dependency.
Industrial Integration
AI+Manufacturing: Smart factory construction targeting 75% CNC automation by 2027. AI+Healthcare: AI-assisted diagnostics covering county-level hospitals. AI+Education: Personalized learning system pilots in primary/secondary schools.
Data Factor Market
Accelerating data rights confirmation, pricing, and circulation systems. Promoting public data openness and building national-level data exchanges.
International Comparison
Unlike the U.S. "free market + light regulation" approach and the EU's "regulation first" model, China adopts a "state-guided + industrial policy" model with strong execution but potential constraints on research diversity.
Outlook
This policy signal will release substantial government procurement orders. China's AI industry is projected to exceed 800 billion RMB in 2026.
In-Depth Analysis and Industry Outlook
From a broader perspective, this development reflects the accelerating trend of AI technology transitioning from laboratories to industrial applications. Industry analysts widely agree that 2026 will be a pivotal year for AI commercialization. On the technical front, large model inference efficiency continues to improve while deployment costs decline, enabling more SMEs to access advanced AI capabilities. On the market front, enterprise expectations for AI investment returns are shifting from long-term strategic value to short-term quantifiable gains.
However, the rapid proliferation of AI also brings new challenges: increasing complexity of data privacy protection, growing demands for AI decision transparency, and difficulties in cross-border AI governance coordination. Regulatory authorities across multiple countries are closely monitoring these developments, attempting to balance innovation promotion with risk prevention. For investors, identifying AI companies with truly sustainable competitive advantages has become increasingly critical as the market transitions from hype to value validation.