Chinese Premier Li Qiang concluded a three-day inspection tour in Guangdong Province this week, outlining bold strategies to position China at the cutting edge of global innovation while preparing for the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030). The visit comes as the world's second-largest economy seeks to consolidate its technological leadership and strengthen regional economic integration.
In Shenzhen, the cradle of China's tech revolution, Premier Li examined progress at the Shenzhen-Hong Kong sci-tech innovation cooperation zone. "Sci-tech innovation remains our master key to future competitiveness," Li stated, urging enhanced policy support and talent cultivation. He particularly emphasized leveraging the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area's unique advantages to pool global innovation resources and achieve technological breakthroughs.
The tour highlighted emerging sectors like low-altitude economy development and cross-border e-commerce logistics. At Foshan International Land Port, Premier Li reviewed operations integrating advanced logistics with digital trade platforms, stressing the need to "build open cooperation platforms that synchronize infrastructure with international standards."
With consumer demand evolving rapidly, Li called for accelerated R&D of high-quality products to create supply-demand synergies. "Our economic development must keep pace with our people's growing aspirations," he remarked during a Foshan visit, underscoring the link between technological advancement and quality-of-life improvements.
Analysts view this inspection as crucial for setting the 15th Five-Year Plan's implementation tone, particularly in balancing technological self-reliance with international cooperation. The Greater Bay Area's role as a testing ground for innovation-driven growth models appears central to China's economic strategy through 2030.
