Premier urges stronger advanced manufacturing

BEIJING, Aug. 23 -- Chinese Premier Li Keqiang on Sunday urged faster and stronger development of the country's advanced manufacturing to fuel the slowing down economy.

As a pillar industry, China's manufacturing should become high-end and more intelligent through nationwide start-ups and innovation, said Premier Li while chairing a State Council meeting.

He stressed tackling problems such as lack of innovation ability, low added value and laggard services, so as to nurture new advantages of the country's manufacturing and boost the "Made in China 2025" and "Internet Plus" initiatives.

The State Council unveiled the ten-year national plan "Made in China 2025" on May 19, designed to transform China from a manufacturing giant into a world manufacturing power.

The Internet Plus concept was first presented by Premier Li Keqiang in March this year when delivering the government work report, which strives to encourage the healthy development of e-commerce, industrial networks, and Internet finance.

Fewer red tapes and better governmental management and services will create fair environment for entrepreneurship. More outsourcing, funding and support will stimulate emerging businesses and generate new growths, Li said.

He also mentioned the intelligent manufacturing that integrates information technologies and manufacturing technologies, a new model leading a deep reform of the whole industry.

Representing such model, 3D printing has realized a significant change from traditional manufacturing. The premier called for more use of 3D printing technology as well as high-end machine tools and industrial robots in order to attract more consumers, expand market demand and maintain sustainable development.

At the meeting, academician Lu Bingheng at the Xi'an Jiaotong University introduced the current situation of China's advanced manufacturing and the world's 3D printing technologies.