China marked a series of landmark achievements in 2025 that cemented its growing lead in global innovation and technology governance, as the country deepens investment in artificial intelligence, deep-space exploration, and industrial modernisation.

According to a report published by CGTN on February 5, Beijing’s technological momentum is now being coupled with a more assertive push to shape international standards in emerging sectors such as AI, data, and digital infrastructure.

The World Intellectual Property Organization’s Global Innovation Index 2025 ranked China tenth globally for the first time, maintaining its top position among upper‑middle‑income economies and placing fifth in innovation output. The country also leads in intellectual property indicators and hosts the highest number of top‑100 innovation clusters globally, with the Shenzhen–Hong Kong–Guangzhou cluster ranked first.

“These advances reflect not only industrial growth but also China's evolving role in global innovation governance,” the CGTN report stated, adding that Beijing is positioning itself to “shape international standards, foster collabouration, and address shared challenges like climate change and public health”.

China’s domestic artificial intelligence sector continued its rapid expansion in 2025, with more than 200 domestic large models developed and wide-scale deployment of AI systems across manufacturing, logistics and public services.

Under the “AI+” initiative, digital technologies are being embedded into smart manufacturing and infrastructure, with the core AI industry surpassing CNY1 trillion ($142bn) last year.

In parallel, China advanced its ambitions in commercial space development. The Long March rocket series launched new satellite constellations from Hainan Province, while the country applied for frequency and orbital rights for 203,000 satellites through the International Telecommunication Union, laying groundwork for a mega‑constellation expected to underpin a CNY1.2 trillion industrial chain by 2030.

The push is reinforced by President Xi Jinping’s 2023 Global Artificial Intelligence Governance Initiative, a framework advocating “secure, inclusive and human‑centred AI governance”. In July 2025, China released the Global AI Governance Action Plan, aimed at deepening multilateral collaboration on responsible AI development.

According to China Media Group, the top AI trends for 2026 include the “globalisation of AI governance, scaling computing power, widespread AI agents and multi-modal interaction technologies”.

Central state-owned enterprises invested 1.1 trillion yuan in R&D for the fourth consecutive year, while a total of 2.5 trillion yuan was channelled into strategic emerging industries. Tax and fee reductions amounting to 10.5 trillion yuan during the 14th Five‑Year Plan (2021–2025) also supported enterprise-led innovation.

Major fundamental science missions are set to further expand China’s research capabilities. The Tianwen‑2 asteroid sampling and Chang’e‑7 lunar water exploration missions are underway, aligning with Beijing’s goal to become a leading space power by the next decade.

“An innovative China, moving with openness and efficiency, is becoming a key engine for shared global progress,” the CGTN report concluded.