Published : 26/06/2024
In recent years, "new quality productive forces" has become a buzzword, but what exactly is it? What makes it "new"? Which fields are worth focusing on when developing new quality productive forces?
This article will take you to explore the answers to these questions.
What is "new quality productive forces"?
The term "new quality productive forces" (新質生產力) came into the public eye in September 2023. At that time, Chinese President Xi Jinping mentioned "new quality productive forces" for the first time during his inspection and research in Heilongjiang Province.
By this January, Xi Jinping clearly mentioned the connotation and requirements of "new quality productive forces" during the 11th collective study session of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee.
So, what exactly is "new quality productive forces"?
According to the official definition, with innovation playing the leading role, new quality productive forces mean advanced productivity that is freed from traditional economic growth mode and productivity development paths, features high-tech, high efficiency and high quality, and comes in line with the new development philosophy.
How to understand this definition? We can focus on the features of "high-tech, high efficiency and high quality".
First, "high-tech" is reflected in the emphasis on technological innovation, particularly original, disruptive technological innovations which can be incorporated into production.
Secondly, "high efficiency" includes higher production efficiency and higher conversion efficiency of scientific research results.
Furthermore, "high quality" refers to development methods of higher quality.
Traditional economic growth mode primarily relies on massive resource inputs and high levels of energy and resource consumption, whereas the "high quality" development driven by new quality productive forces breaks away from this growth pattern.
According to official explanations, new quality productive forces can also be succinctly understood in one sentence: "Marked by innovation, and with high quality as the key, new productive forces are advanced productivity in essence. "
What makes new quality productive forces "new"?
Specifically, what exactly is "new" about new quality productive forces?
New quality productive forces mainly involve the improvement of labour forces, means of labour, subjects of labour.
Traditional labour forces are farmers who look at the sky to predict the weather or workers who tighten screws on assembly lines; whereas new types of labour forces are modern talents who can fully utilise new technologies.
Traditional means of labour are ploughs from the agricultural age or steam engines from the industrial age; new means of labour can include artificial intelligence, drones, IoT (Internet of things), and algorithms.
Traditional subjects of labour are land, oil, water and electricity, and road networks; new subjects of labour include big data, which can be the future's water, electricity, and coal, forming the basis for new technologies.
New quality productive forces are an optimised combination of all these elements above.
Read more: What is computing power?
How to develop new quality productive forces?
After understanding what new quality productive forces are, the next question is, how to promote them?
Regarding how to accelerate the formation of new quality productive forces, experts from the National Information Centre highlighted that this requires breakthroughs in critical technologies, robust expansion of strategic emerging sectors, full integration of digital tools into physical industries, and nurturing talent with both innovation skills and digital expertise
Specifically, which industries will be the focus in the future? AI, new materials, new energy, biotechnology, high-end chips, quantum technology, IoT, etc., are all areas worth paying attention to.
However, the authorities also point out that developing new quality productive forces requires identifying the key points and main directions of attack; it is necessary to prevent a headlong rush into projects and the formation of industry bubbles, and avoid adopting just a single model of development.
The authorities called for efforts to foster emerging industries and enhance industrial transformation and upgrading.
In other words, new quality productive forces entail far more than simply developing new technologies or going all-out to pursue emerging industries – such as rushing headlong into new energy vehicle production.
It also signifies the transformation and upgrading of traditional industries through technological innovation, including moves towards higher-end production, smart manufacturing, and green industrial practices.
Read more: What is "Chinese path to modernisation"?
Read more: What is "high-quality development"?