July edition
洞见机遇
赢领未来
宏
Overview of any government movements affecting end consumers and brands.
China continues to double down on strategic technologies, with state support driving progress across AI, the low-altitude economy, digital currency and beyond.
This isn’t just innovation for innovation’s sake — these tech areas are directly aligned with long-term policy goals and economic positioning.
Take the low-altitude economy, for instance. Civil aviation authorities predict it will hit RMB 1.5 trillion ($208 billion) by the end of 2025, growing to RMB 3.5tn by 2035. Use cases range from drone delivery and aircraft tourism to medical emergencies and environmental monitoring. These future-facing scenarios align with national priorities around efficiency, sustainability and smart infrastructure.
AI-aided medical equipment is another high-focus area, helping to address ageing population needs while also establishing global leadership in health-tech innovation. Meanwhile, the digital yuan is being actively promoted for cross-border commerce, creating new momentum around foreign trade digitisation and making transactions more seamless and secure.
Nowhere is this tech-policy alignment more evident than in Shenzhen, the poster child of China's innovation economy. With nearly 300 active drone delivery routes and over 1.7m drone deliveries already completed, Shenzhen is evolving rapidly as a testing ground and commercial hub. Recent policy shifts will now allow Hong Kong-listed companies to also go public in Shenzhen, further strengthening cross-border tech and finance integration.
Subscribe to the China Playbook for a monthly dose of fact-driven information from China, broken down and explained by thought leaders here at Hot Pot China. As a member, you’ll unlock unlimited access to data, actionable insights and strategic takeaways you won’t find anywhere else.