iscover
The People’s Republic of China is expected to prioritise “new quality productive forces” by embedding artificial intelligence, digital infrastructure and automation into every part of the economy over the next five years, according to the Australia China Business Council (ACBC).
ACBC national president David Olsson made the comments in a June report after returning from visits to Shenzhen, Hangzhou. and Beijing.
“That next wave (of technology) is already visible. At UBTECH Robotics and ByteDance, humanoid robots are being deployed in real-world settings, and AI is optimising supply chains and customer-facing services at scale,” said Olsson.
“In Hangzhou, I saw AI-enabled prosthetics performing complex tasks with speed and precision, and at a fraction of traditional costs.
“This isn’t about copying China. It’s about understanding the frontier and being smart about how we engage with it on our terms.
“Too often, we treat technological engagement with China as a risk to be avoided. But ignoring it entirely is a greater risk – one that leaves us out of the conversations and ecosystems where the future economy is being built.
“If we treat productivity as purely a domestic exercise, we’ll miss the larger shift. We need to do both: lift performance at home and connect with where innovation is happening abroad.
“With the Prime Minister expected to visit China in the coming months, and the national productivity roundtable on the horizon, now is the time to align domestic reform with international opportunity.”
Olsson confirmed that the launch of the Doing Business in China 2025 report in Beijing has seen Australian firms establishing long-term commitment and deep local partnerships in the country.
