China's Premier Li Qiang on AI, semiconductor and autonomous driving

According to the press release of Beijing International Scientific and Technological Innovation Center, China’s Premier Li Qiang visited Beijing High-Level Autonomous Driving Demonstration Zone Innovation Operation Center (北京市高级别自动驾驶示范区创新运营中心), Baidu, and NAURA Technology Group (北方华创), talking about China’s large language model, semiconductors, autonomous driving, developing new productive forces, and tackling key core technologies. He emphasised the importance of more “policy support” to China’s AI industry and a more relaxed environment for the development of the AI industry.

On March 13th, Li Qiang, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and the Premier of the State Council, conducted research in Beijing. He emphasized the importance of deeply studying and implementing the spirit of General Secretary Xi Jinping's important speeches during the Two Sessions, earnestly fulfilling the various tasks specified by the Two Sessions, firmly grasping the trend of a new round of technological revolution and industrial transformation, fostering and strengthening new productive forces in the deep integration of technological innovation and industrial innovation, and accelerating the formation of new drivers and new advantages for high-quality development.

Li Qiang first visited the innovation operation center of the high-level autonomous driving demonstration zone in Beijing, where he inspected the cloud control base platform system and the vehicle-road coordination sandbox demonstration. Li Qiang fully affirmed the innovative achievements of the demonstration zone and called for increased support in standard setting and element assurance, among other aspects, to aid the development of the automobile industry and the construction of smart cities through the iterative upgrading of autonomous driving technology. Li Qiang then visited Baidu's Yizhuang office area to understand the development and application of large model products and the construction of a domestic AI innovation consortium. Li Qiang emphasized the need to leverage China's advantage of rich application scenarios, open up more application scenes, increase policy support (制度供给), and create a more relaxed environment for the development of the AI industry.

At NAURA Technology Group (北方华创), Li Qiang listened to an introduction about the company's research and development and industrialization of integrated circuit equipment. He visited workshops and laboratories to inspect the demonstration of advanced technologies. Li Qiang commended the company for its innovative achievements and encouraged them to further increase investment in technology, accelerate the research and development of advanced process equipment, and better lead the whole industry chain in collaborative innovation. At the Beijing Institute for General Artificial Intelligence, Li Qiang learned in detail about the research and development of cutting-edge technologies for large models and inspected the display of AI products. Li Qiang emphasized the need to maintain confidence and determination, aim for the world's advanced level, concentrate superior resources, strengthen collaborative efforts in tackling key problems, and continuously make new breakthroughs.

During the research, Li Qiang held a symposium to listen to reports on the development of new productive forces in Beijing and speeches by representatives of relevant enterprises. Li Qiang pointed out that developing new productive forces is an inherent requirement and an important focus for promoting high-quality development. It is necessary to firmly grasp innovation as the "key point," accelerate the breakthrough in key core technologies, and drive industrial innovation with scientific and technological innovation. It is important to follow the laws of industrial development and combine the actual conditions of different regions, advancing the development of new productive forces in a manner that is tailored to local conditions and scientifically planned. Li Qiang noted that AI is an important engine for the development of new productive forces. It is essential to strengthen forward-looking arrangements, accelerate the improvement of computing power, advance algorithm breakthroughs and data development and usage, vigorously carry out the "AI+" action, and better empower various industries.

Li Qiang hopes that Beijing will fully leverage its advantages, lead in the development of new productive forces, and play a demonstrative and leading role.

Yin Li and Wu Zhenglong participated in the research.