Beijing signals stronger push to embed AI in manufacturing as premier meets rising start-up founders and industry leaders
2-MIN READ2-MINIris Dengin ShenzhenPublished: 11:30pm, 10 Apr 2026Yang Zhilin, founder of fast-rising start-up Moonshot AI, has become the latest artificial intelligence entrepreneur to meet Chinese Premier Li Qiang, as Beijing steps up its push to accelerate the digital transformation of manufacturing.
The 32-year-old was among a select group of business leaders and experts invited to a high-level symposium on Friday, where participants offered views on China’s economic resilience and future growth drivers.
Li acknowledged that the external environment had become more complex and volatile this year, but said the economy had made a strong start, supported by the timely roll-out of proactive macroeconomic policies.
He urged a deeper implementation of the country’s “AI plus” strategy, calling for faster integration of AI into manufacturing to drive digital and intelligent upgrades. The premier also emphasised the need to combine advanced manufacturing with modern services to strengthen the broader industrial system.
In addition, Li called on participants to tap into emerging sectors to create jobs, boost incomes and expand domestic demand, while encouraging entrepreneurs to play a leading role in innovation and employment.
Other attendees included Guo Lei, chief economist at GF Securities; Ma Guangrong, a finance professor at Renmin University of China; and Feng Boming, chairman of China Merchants Port Holdings.
