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Strategic Embrace of High-Tech Approach by Xi Amid Trade War Drives Growth

China's technological independence and strengthened relations with the Global South are underscored by President Xi Jinping's trip to Shanghai.

Strategic Embrace of High-Tech Approach by Xi Amid Trade War Drives Growth

In a bold move, Chinese President Xi Jinping kicked off his first inspection tour since the trade war with the USA intensified, by visiting Shanghai - a clear demonstration of China's unshakable resolve in the face of external pressures.

Choosing the economically powerful city as the first destination highlights China's core strengths and its commitment to innovation and technological self-reliance. Amid rumors swirling around, especially in the West, regarding the trade war and its implications for growth, Xi's focus on technological self-sufficiency sends a strong message. Is China planning to shift gears temporarily towards traditional sectors like construction and real estate, which still provide employment for a substantial number of people? Not quite, it seems.

While visiting an AI startup hub in Shanghai, Xi emphasized China's significant strides in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and encouraged further support for this fast-evolving technology. The city is all set to spearhead the charge in the tech sector, reinforcing the policy of cultivating new productive forces, with a particular focus on hi-tech industries and the transformation of the Chinese economy.

It's no coincidence that Xi chose Shanghai - the most internationalized city on the mainland, with a vast pool of talent. The city's journey towards hi-tech dominance mirrors China's broader economic strategy, which places a high emphasis on technological self-reliance, particularly in advanced sectors like AI, shaping the future of all economic outputs.

China's 2025 economic policy radicalizes its focus on stability and high-quality development, with an increased allocation of fiscal resources towards green technology, digital transformation, and regional revitalization. China's 2025 GDP growth target of "around 5%" reflects this deliberate orientation. The government is pouring resources into domestic innovation to counter external pressures, including escalating US tariffs, emphasizing the necessity of cutting down on foreign tech dependency, especially in AI, as recurring themes under Xi's leadership.

Although the details of Xi's Shanghai agenda aren't explicitly outlined in the search results, China's 2025 economic blueprint shows that innovation resilience serves as a strong counter to trade decoupling and foundation for long-term growth. With AI and related technologies serving as the cornerstone of this strategy, despite persistent structural challenges like limited progress in rebalancing domestic consumption and debt.

  1. The choice of Shanghai, a city known for its economic power and technological advancements, underscores China's commitment to technological self-reliance and innovation.
  2. Xi's visit to an AI startup hub in Shanghai implies China's significant strides in artificial intelligence and its reliance on this technology for economic growth.
  3. Shanghai, being the most internationalized city on the mainland and a pool of global talent, reflects China's broader economic strategy, emphasizing technological self-reliance, especially in advanced sectors like AI.
  4. China's 2025 economic policy prioritizes stability and high-quality development, allocating more fiscal resources towards AI, digital transformation, and regional revitalization, highlighting the importance of innovation resilience.
  5. The increasing focus on domestic innovation in AI, as seen in China's 2025 economic policy, underscores the necessity of cutting down on foreign tech dependency, especially in AI, to counter external pressures like trade decoupling and escalating US tariffs.
Xi Jinping's trip to Shanghai underscores China's commitment to achieving technological independence and strengthening relationships with the Global South.

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