On October 9, 2026, the Central Committee of the CPC and the State Council issued the Opinions on Developing New Quality Productive Forces (hereinafter referred to as “the Opinions”). The document outlines 19 measures covering technological innovation, industrial development, green transformation, institutional reform and talent development. It sets out China's policy priorities for strengthening technological capabilities, modernizing industries and improving productivity, with implications for future standardization, regulation and market development.

Technology and Industrial Development Priorities

A central theme of the Opinions is the closer integration of technological innovation with industrial development. China plans to accelerate the modernization of traditional industries, including machinery, metallurgy, chemicals, textiles and shipbuilding, through wider adoption of digital, intelligent and green technologies. National standards, major equipment-upgrading programs and stronger quality infrastructure are expected to support this transformation.

Alongside traditional manufacturing, the Opinions identify several strategic emerging industries for further development, including next-generation information technology, new energy, advanced materials, intelligent connected new-energy vehicles, robotics, high-end equipment and aerospace. The policy also supports the development of the low-altitude economy and commercial space activities, while emphasizing the importance of appropriate safety measures.

Looking further ahead, China intends to explore new technological and commercial opportunities in quantum technologies, hydrogen energy, nuclear fusion, brain-computer interfaces, embodied AI and 6G communications. To help bring these technologies into practical use, the Opinions encourage demonstration projects, pilot-testing and validation platforms, and closer cooperation between research institutions and enterprises.

Standardization, Green Development and Digital Governance

For manufacturers and standardization stakeholders, several policy directions are particularly relevant. The Opinions explicitly identify national standards as a means of upgrading traditional industries and call for stronger quality infrastructure. They also propose improvements to market-access systems, intellectual property protection and regulatory frameworks for emerging technologies, particularly AI and biotechnology.

Green development is another area where standardization and certification are expected to play an important role. The Opinions call for further improvements to green product certification and labeling systems, alongside the development of zero-carbon factories and industrial parks. They also highlight the need to strengthen carbon-emission accounting, measurement and standardization, and to further develop product carbon labeling certification and product carbon footprint management systems.

These directions suggest continued attention to the environmental performance of products and manufacturing processes. However, the Opinions provide a broad policy framework rather than introducing specific new certification procedures or mandatory technical requirements. Further details will depend on subsequent standards, regulations and implementation measures.

Digital transformation receives similar attention. Under the nationwide “AI Plus” initiative, China aims to expand AI applications across industries and accelerate the development of intelligent connected vehicles, AI-enabled smartphones and computers, and humanoid robots. The policy also supports industrial digitalization, the Industrial Internet, national computing infrastructure and data networks.

At the same time, the Opinions emphasize the need for AI technologies to remain safe, reliable and controllable, calling for stronger technology monitoring, risk-warning and emergency-response mechanisms. Improvements to data-market arrangements and secure, efficient cross-border data flows are also included among the priorities.

International Cooperation and Implications for Foreign Stakeholders

The Opinions recognize enterprises as important drivers of innovation and encourage greater corporate R&D investment, industry-led research projects and the commercialization of technological achievements. International cooperation remains part of this approach. The document supports global research collaboration and innovation networks, while explicitly encouraging foreign venture capital institutions and international standards organizations to develop activities in China.

For foreign manufacturers, technology providers and standardization organizations, the significance of the Opinions lies primarily in the policy direction they establish, rather than in immediate compliance obligations. The document identifies industries likely to receive continued attention in research, industrial policy and regulatory development.

Companies operating in or supplying the Chinese market may therefore wish to follow subsequent developments in product standards, conformity assessment, green certification, carbon-related requirements and emerging technology governance. International stakeholders may also find opportunities for technical cooperation and participation in standardization activities as these policy priorities are translated into more specific initiatives.