“Made in China 2025” plan as Beijing looks towards ‘smart manufacturing’

BEIJING - Chinese media sources, including National Business Daily, are reporting that an official plan for “Made in China 2025” will be released sometime in the next month. Robotics, automation, aviation and maritime equipment and mechanised agriculture are some of the areas the plan is expected to emphasise.

Reports said the plan has already been approved by the State Council, and an official draft is currently being prepared for public release. Analysts say “Made in China 2025” is intended to turn China’s “traditional manufacturing” sector into a “smart manufacturing” sector.

Media reports also suggest that China’s State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission (SASAC) has devised a new plan for SOE restructuring, with the number of central-government SOEs to be reduced to a total of 40. Currently there are 112 central-government SOEs. Consolidation of resources into larger companies will focus first on the “commercial” class of SOEs. www.webershandwick.cn (ATI).