Every leap forward in Chinese manufacturing begins with a relentless pursuit of precision. This pursuit is evident in technology, craftsmanship, and the long-term commitment to core businesses. Representatives and committee members from the automotive, machinery, equipment, and wind power industries have actively offered suggestions and advice on the grand theme of high-quality development of China's manufacturing industry, combining their work experience with their research findings.

Yang Yongxiu, a deputy to the National People's Congress and chief skills master of FAW Group: forging new productive forces with "micrometer-level craftsmanship".

In the trial production workshop of FAW's R&D General Institute, staff are processing new energy electric drive housings with a precision of 0.008 millimeters. This precision requirement is almost double that of traditional fuel vehicle engine cylinder body processing standards.

As a technical expert who has grown from the production line, Yang Yongxiu, a deputy to the National People's Congress and chief skills master of FAW Group, has personally experienced FAW's transformation from traditional fuel vehicles to new energy vehicles. Over the past year, he has visited more than 30 companies and universities, transforming his frontline research findings into a series of suggestions. At this year's National Two Sessions, he brought forward several suggestions on the lightweight design of new energy vehicles, further education for industrial workers, and the construction of a vocational undergraduate system, actively contributing suggestions to cultivate new productive forces and promote the high-quality development of the automotive industry.

Striving for excellence to drive industrial upgrading: "If the engine is the heart of a car, then the cylinder block is the heart of the engine." Yang Yongxiu introduced that the positional accuracy of more than 100 holes on the engine cylinder block needs to be controlled between 0 mm and 0.02 mm, and its processing accuracy determines the power performance of the entire vehicle.

In the field of traditional fuel vehicles, he once led the team to lock the processing accuracy of V-type engines at 0.015 mm, breaking the foreign technology monopoly. Today, in the strategic transformation of Hongqi new energy vehicles, the precision requirements of core components such as electric drive housings have been increased to 0.008 mm, "which is equivalent to pursuing stability at one-tenth the diameter of a hair," said Yang Yongxiu.

Behind this leap in precision is the result of Yang Yongxiu and his team members continuously overcoming technical difficulties and making innovative breakthroughs. "This is not only a digital leap, but also a measure of industrial upgrading." From breaking through the precise processing technology of engines to leading the Hongqi new energy electric drive system's technological advancement, Yang Yongxiu has always believed that every leap forward in Chinese manufacturing begins with a relentless pursuit of precision.

With his dedication to excellence, Yang Yongxiu has achieved outstanding achievements in the field of numerical control technology. The trial processing task of the latest domestically developed V12 engine he participated in ended the history of core components of multi-cylinder engines needing to be processed abroad, filling the gap in the domestic manufacturing of V-type engines.

Breaking through the range anxiety of new energy vehicles with lightweight design: "The annual penetration rate of new energy vehicles has reached nearly 50%, but range anxiety remains a concern for consumers." Yang Yongxiu's research found that although key technologies for new energy vehicles have made significant progress, core pain points such as range anxiety, performance bottlenecks, cost pressure, and environmental benefits still need to be overcome.

In Yang Yongxiu's view, as the automotive industry continues to transform, the demand for innovation is increasing, and technological breakthroughs must continue. At this year's Two Sessions, he brought forward suggestions on the lightweight design of new energy vehicles. Yang Yongxiu stated that lightweight design can reduce vehicle energy consumption, reduce the demand for large-capacity batteries, improve cruising range, and reduce vehicle costs. At the same time, it can indirectly reduce emissions, accelerate efficient resource utilization, and contribute to the "dual carbon" goals.

"To promote the lightweight design of new energy vehicles, efforts can be made in terms of materials, such as using high-strength, lightweight materials such as carbon fiber and magnesium-aluminum alloys." Yang Yongxiu stated that through breakthroughs in these materials, combined with optimized design, vehicle weight can be effectively reduced, energy consumption can be reduced, vehicle safety can be improved, and consumers can have a safer travel experience.

Yang Yongxiu suggested that lightweight design of new energy vehicles is a systematic project that requires collaborative innovation from multiple dimensions, including materials, structural design, and manufacturing processes. In addition, it is necessary to start from the industrial chain, implementation strategies, and national industry policies to promote collaborative efforts.

Deeply integrating workshop experience with theoretical knowledge: "Frontline skilled personnel must not only be able to operate machine tools, but also understand programming and be able to innovate. This poses new challenges to traditional training models." As a national technical expert who grew up in a vocational school, Yang Yongxiu deeply understands the importance of combining theory with practice. "The core of new productive forces is technological innovation, and the foundation of innovation lies in talent." In Yang Yongxiu's view, the career development path of skilled personnel needs more policy support. Only by deeply integrating workshop experience with theoretical knowledge can a solid talent foundation be built for a strong manufacturing nation.

Yang Yongxiu stated that for high-skilled personnel, it is necessary to reform the admission thresholds and selection mechanisms, optimize educational resources and teaching models, and formulate admission standards and examination content that meet their characteristics. At the same time, based on optimizing educational resources and teaching models, encourage universities to offer postgraduate programs and courses for high-skilled personnel, and flexibly arrange learning time and methods.

"As a representative of technical workers, all I can do is focus on my work, continuously conduct technological breakthroughs, and contribute to the development of FAW and the development of national automobile brands." said Yang Yongxiu.

Shan Zenghai, a deputy to the National People's Congress, chief engineer and vice president of XCMG: promoting the green and intelligent development of the engineering machinery industry.

Entering the vibration and noise laboratory of XCMG Research Institute, Shan Zenghai, a deputy to the National People's Congress, chief engineer and vice president, is conducting data tests with his colleagues. The parameters of engineering machinery are constantly jumping on the computer screen, and the surroundings seem to enter a silent world. XCMG is a leader in China's engineering machinery industry and is at the forefront of technological innovation.

"This is an important part of XCMG's acceleration of digital R&D by taking intelligent transformation, digital transformation, and networking as its "No. 1 project." Shan Zenghai, who has long been on the front line of engineering machinery R&D, said that this year, he is still focusing on the "green, intelligent, and service-oriented" development of engineering machinery.

Shan Zenghai said that as "production tools," users of engineering machinery are more concerned about cost and return, while the initial purchase cost of new energy equipment is high and the applicable scenarios are limited. With the continuous increase in the penetration rate of new energy passenger vehicles, engineering machinery products, which require continuous operation and have scattered operation areas, face problems such as high costs of pure electric vehicles, insufficient cruising range, and insufficient power to meet usage needs.

"Range-extender technology exists as a supplement to pure electric and fuel vehicles, with the advantage of improving energy efficiency, reducing emissions, and reducing costs. With increasingly stringent environmental protection policies, range-extender technology has broad development prospects." Shan Zenghai proposed that relevant policies can be introduced to support range-extended hybrid engineering machinery and agricultural machinery to replace traditional power products. For example, promoting and expanding the implementation of large-scale equipment renewal and consumer product trade-in policies, and including range-extended hybrid engineering machinery and agricultural machinery in the promotion and subsidy catalogs.

In terms of technological breakthroughs, Shan Zenghai said that developing special range extenders suitable for engineering machinery and agricultural machinery is extremely challenging. In particular, in terms of highly integrated special engines, motors, and electronic controls, technical difficulties such as space layout, power output, precise control, and electromagnetic interference still need to be overcome. He suggested supporting leading enterprises in the industry to lead the establishment of joint innovation bodies, gathering resources from research institutions, universities, and upstream and downstream enterprises in the industrial chain to accelerate the overcoming of technical difficulties in range-extended systems and components for engineering machinery and agricultural machinery, and promoting the green transformation and development of the industry.

Collaboration leads to mutual success. On December 20, 2024, XCMG Machinery, the Chinese Academy of Sciences Industrial Artificial Intelligence Research Institute, and Nanjing Iron & Steel Co., Ltd. reached a strategic cooperation agreement. The three parties will jointly establish the Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory of Industrial Artificial Intelligence, focusing on research in the fields of intelligent design, manufacturing, and control of engineering machinery, aiming to break through key core technologies and promote the intelligent upgrading of the industry.

Currently, the domestic engineering machinery market has transitioned from an incremental market to a stock market. Compared to the internationally mature engineering machinery market, nearly 70% of its profits come from the aftermarket, with used vehicles accounting for a large proportion. Shan Genhai suggests that the national level can standardize and improve the order of the engineering machinery used vehicle market, and increase policy support for engineering machinery used vehicles. At the same time, support the export of used engineering machinery and enhance the ability and influence of Chinese brands' international operations in used vehicles.

Yan Jianwen, a national CPPCC member and chairman of Hefei Forging & Pressing Intelligent Equipment Co., Ltd.: Long-term commitment is needed for the development of high-end equipment manufacturing.

Entering the workshop, reporters saw that large-scale equipment used in aerospace and automotive manufacturing was being produced in full swing. "I will continue to pay attention to the development of the high-end equipment manufacturing industry and the nuclear fusion direction." Recently, Yan Jianwen, a national CPPCC member and chairman of Hefei Forging & Pressing Intelligent Equipment Co., Ltd., said in an interview with the Shanghai Securities News reporter: "Some things require us to dedicate our lives to doing well. 'Persistence' requires the efforts of several generations."

The path to localization of high-end equipment manufacturing

Integrated circuits, large aircraft, nuclear power, controllable nuclear fusion... Major national science and technology projects currently underway all require high-end manufacturing equipment. Data released by the National Bureau of Statistics shows that in 2024, the added value of China's large-scale equipment manufacturing industry increased by 7.7% year-on-year, and the added value of high-tech manufacturing industry increased by 8.9% year-on-year, accounting for 34.6% and 16.3% of the added value of large-scale industrial enterprises respectively.

How will Chinese industry proceed on the path of intelligence? How can breakthroughs be achieved in basic processes, basic materials, basic components, and key technologies, transforming from an industrial power to a strong industrial nation? This is a question that Yan Jianwen constantly contemplates. "Not long ago, the Central Economic Work Conference proposed to 'prevent involution'. Excessive involution and low-price competition will cause great harm to the manufacturing industry." Yan Jianwen said, "We cannot use a simple and temporary method. I am more concerned about the methods and paths for improving key core technologies and key processes."

In terms of key core technologies, Yan Jianwen believes that although China has made some breakthroughs in some areas, some key components and raw materials still rely on imports. For example, the rapid development of integrated circuit chip manufacturing equipment, large-scale petrochemical equipment, and key equipment for automobile manufacturing, and the insufficient supply of China's supporting "three basic" products (basic components, basic processes, and basic materials) have become the main factors restricting industrial development and the hollowing out of host and complete sets of equipment.

"I hope that the state can increase its support for domestic leading enterprises and major manufacturing projects." Yan Jianwen suggested strengthening national-level support, highlighting the leading role of enterprises in innovation, and promoting the formation of industrial chains and clusters centered on domestic leading enterprises. At the same time, establish a national foundation to strengthen research and development investment in basic research and manufacturing processes.

"Especially in cutting-edge fields such as quantum computing, artificial intelligence, and materials science, the high-end equipment manufacturing industry needs a continuous injection of new impetus. Innovative achievements in basic research should be prioritized to support experimental verification of domestic system equipment. In key components such as precision bearings, servo motors, and sensors, it is recommended to introduce more practical policies to promote industrial upgrading and technological progress." Yan Jianwen said.

Nuclear fusion industry expects policy support. In January 2025, the "artificial sun" EAST superconducting tokamak device located on Hefei Science Island created a new world record, achieving stable, long-pulse, high-confinement mode plasma operation at over 100 million degrees Celsius for 1066 seconds. Currently, the international community generally believes that fusion energy is the most promising next-generation energy source that can simultaneously solve global energy and environmental problems.

Continuously promoting the development of controllable nuclear fusion technology is another commitment of Yan Jianwen. This year, Yan Jianwen has taken on two new roles—executive director of the Hefei National Research Center for Energy and chairman of Fusion New Energy (Anhui) Co., Ltd.

"In the future, I will mainly focus on the development of the nuclear fusion field." Yan Jianwen said, "Nuclear fusion, as a future industry, requires not only overcoming technological challenges but also strengthening policy promotion in areas such as laws and regulations and industry access."

Benchmarking against the international forefront of fusion development, Yan Jianwen suggested that the development and industrial layout of fusion energy technology should be elevated to the national level, a key technology list should be formed, existing experiments, large-scale numerical simulations, fusion material research and development and testing should be strengthened, and early layout should be carried out in basic research and common technology research. In addition, based on the prediction of the demand for fusion nuclear fuel, a penetrating analysis of the raw materials, key component supply sources, demand, and timetable of domestic suppliers should be conducted to form a relatively complete industrial chain and supply chain, accelerating the commercialization process of nuclear fusion. Currently, the development of artificial intelligence has entered a critical window period, and new rounds of technology are constantly iterating and evolving. Yan Jianwen said that AI technology is also indispensable in the field of nuclear fusion. The Hefei National Research Center for Energy recently joined forces with University of Science and Technology of China, Institute of Plasma Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, iFlytek, etc. to establish an artificial intelligence center. "By using AI to analyze experimental data and model it, the nuclear fusion device can achieve precise discharge. Artificial intelligence will play a significant role in the field of nuclear fusion." Yan Jianwen said.

Xue Jiping, a national NPC deputy and chairman of Zhongtian Technology: Promoting the transformation and upgrading of wind farms and policy optimization

"The transformation and upgrading of wind farms can not only expand effective investment and increase the proportion of advanced production capacity but also promote the high-quality development of the wind power industry and help regions achieve their 'dual carbon' goals." On March 3, Xue Jiping, a national NPC deputy and chairman of Zhongtian Technology, shared his thoughts on accelerating the transformation and upgrading of wind farms and policy optimization in an exclusive interview with the Shanghai Securities News reporter.

Xue Jiping said that the current policy support and implementation of the transformation and upgrading of wind farm projects still have some deviations and need further optimization to better improve the overall safety level of old wind farms, promote the intensive use of land resources, contribute to the "dual carbon" goal, and promote regional economic development. Xue Jiping said that some early wind power projects have smaller unit capacities and relatively imperfect technologies. Because they have been in operation for more than 15 years, electrical and mechanical equipment is generally aging, and failures are increasing, resulting in a year-on-year decline in wind farm power generation. Taking Jiangsu Province as an example, there are a total of 10 wind power projects that have met the grid connection requirements for 15 years, i.e., those connected to the grid before 2010, with a total installed capacity of about 2.2 million kilowatts. "If the transformation and upgrading of wind farms is carried out, the total installed capacity is expected to increase to 9 million kilowatts after the transformation, with a total of approximately 54 billion yuan in additional investment, effectively promoting the overall technological and industrial innovation of the wind power industry."

Xue Jiping's research also found that many early wind power projects mainly use franchise operations to clarify the investment and development entities, and the installed capacity of units is generally small. A considerable number of projects have inconsistencies between the actual construction installed capacity and the approved installed capacity or franchise planning capacity. Since March 2022, several ministries and commissions, including the National Development and Reform Commission, have formed provincial-level verification teams to conduct comprehensive checks on projects that enjoy renewable energy power generation subsidies. Wind power projects with overcapacity in the early stage have all been given a red code.

According to Xue Jiping, the "Notice on Clarifying the Relevant Policy Interpretations for the Verification and Confirmation of Renewable Energy Power Generation Subsidies," jointly issued by the National Development and Reform Commission Office and other relevant authorities, clarifies that the "project capacity" of wind power projects included in the subsidy scope shall be determined based on the capacity confirmed at the time of approval. It is suggested that a certain deviation from the project scale specified in the approval document be allowed, with the deviation not exceeding the capacity of the smallest unit with a single rated power.

“This will also support the application and implementation of wind farms that have red codes or other historical issues, but meet national policies and regulations and meet the conditions for upgrading and transformation,” said Xue Jiping.

“Promoting the upgrading and transformation of wind farms, using wind turbines with advanced manufacturing processes and intelligent control technologies, can improve wind farm safety and improve resource utilization efficiency and power generation levels,” Xue Jiping believes that the upgrading and transformation of wind farms can drive the development of related industries such as local manufacturing and construction, promote employment, and play an important role in boosting the local economy.

Liu Hui, a national People's Congress deputy and chief technician of Jiangling Automobile's die-casting and tooling workshop: Cultivating more outstanding manufacturing talents

Currently, China's manufacturing industry is accelerating its digital transformation. With the implementation of intelligent production lines and digital systems in enterprises, the shortage of talents in related fields is becoming increasingly prominent.

On March 3, Liu Hui, a national People's Congress deputy, secretary of the Party branch of the third workshop of Jiangling Motors Co., Ltd.'s stamping plant, and chief technician of die-casting and tooling, said in an exclusive interview with the Shanghai Securities News reporter that this year he mainly focuses on the mismatch between technology application and talent supply in the digital transformation of the manufacturing industry, and how to further stimulate the potential of automobile consumption.

Liu Hui is very familiar with the bottlenecks and pain points in the digital transformation of the manufacturing industry. Over the past year, after conducting field research, Liu Hui discovered a core problem: the professional settings of vocational schools lag behind industrial needs, and school-enterprise cooperation lacks long-term motivation. At the same time, existing policies on integration of production and education are fragmented, and enterprises lack enthusiasm for participation. “In recent years, the intelligent and automated development of the automotive industry has accelerated, and enterprises urgently need to accelerate their transformation,” Liu Hui believes that high-quality development of enterprises relies on digital transformation and technological innovation, and technological innovation must rely on talent. Liu Hui suggested that a dynamic docking mechanism between the "industrial demand list" and the "education supply list" be established at the national level, and incentive policies such as tax incentives and special subsidies be improved to support leading enterprises in leading the establishment of production-education integration consortia.

“Through contractual cooperation, normalized docking, and market-oriented operation, a virtuous cycle ecosystem of demand docking-resource integration-value co-creation can be formed,” Liu Hui proposed to create a tripartite collaborative mechanism of "government-school-enterprise": the policy side introduces special incentives and builds a production-education integration data platform; schools dynamically adjust professional settings, implement a "dual-mentor system" and modular courses; enterprises deeply participate in formulating talent standards and jointly build training bases and industrial colleges. “Commercial vehicles play a key role in important areas of the national economy such as logistics and transportation and construction. The upgrading and replacement of old commercial vehicles is of great significance to improving transportation efficiency and reducing energy consumption and emissions.” Liu Hui noted that the automobile trade-in policy currently being vigorously promoted mainly focuses on passenger vehicles, and commercial vehicles are not fully covered.

Liu Hui believes that expanding the automobile trade-in policy to the commercial vehicle sector can not only stimulate the demand for upgrading and replacement of the commercial vehicle market, promote the market penetration of new energy commercial vehicles, and stimulate the vitality of the automobile market consumption, but also help related enterprises seize the opportunities of the replacement window period and achieve industrial transformation and upgrading.

Liu Hui suggested expanding the scope of subsidy recipients to cover individual businesses, small and medium-sized enterprises, and other major users of commercial vehicles, and providing fixed subsidies to users who scrap old commercial vehicles and purchase new energy or low-emission vehicles.

“It is suggested that relevant departments optimize the application, review, and issuance process to ensure that subsidy funds are timely and fully disbursed. With the support of policies, more people will be willing to participate in trade-ins, thereby promoting automobile consumption and industrial development,” Liu Hui said.