China VP Zhang Guoqing Pushes AI Innovation in Zhejiang Tour
Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Guoqing has concluded a three-day inspection tour in Zhejiang Province, calling for deeper integration of scientific and technological innovation with industrial innovation and a renewed focus on quality management. The tour, conducted from June 25 to 27, took the senior official to technology enterprises in Hangzhou and the sprawling Yiwu International Trade Market, underscoring Beijing’s push to accelerate innovation-driven economic transformation.
Context: A Leader with a Tech Portfolio
Zhang, a member of the Politburo of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and one of four Vice Premiers under Premier Li Qiang, oversees a portfolio that includes industry, science and technology, quality supervision, and state-owned enterprise reform. According to his official biography, Zhang holds a PhD in Quantitative Economics from Tsinghua University and previously served as Party Secretary of Chongqing and Governor of Liaoning. His inspection tours in Fujian (June 18) and Qinghai (May 2026) earlier this year reflect a pattern of hands-on policy assessment across provinces.
Key Developments: From Brain-Computer Interfaces to Textiles
During the tour, Zhang visited three enterprises representing different facets of China’s economic landscape. At Zhejiang Qiangnao Technology (BrainCo) — a brain-computer interface (BCI) company valued at over ¥12 billion and incubated by the Harvard Innovation Lab — he examined non-invasive BCI technologies used in intelligent bionic prosthetics. At Hangzhou Deep Robotics, one of the “Hangzhou Six Little Dragons” that recently filed for a STAR Market IPO seeking to raise ¥2.5 billion, he observed quadruped and humanoid robots. The tour also included Zhejiang Zhen’ai Blanket Technology, a traditional textile manufacturer in Yiwu that has earned recognition as a national-level green factory, exporting to over 40 countries.
As Xinhua News Agency reported, Zhang emphasized that “enterprises are the vital force driving innovation and creation” and called for strengthening their leading role in basic research and core technology breakthroughs. He urged support for companies to “continue to deeply cultivate original innovation in frontier fields” and “accelerate breakthroughs in core technology bottlenecks.”
The AI+ Imperative and New Quality Productive Forces
A central theme of Zhang’s remarks was the expansion of the “AI+” initiative — a national strategy to embed artificial intelligence across all economic sectors. According to People’s Daily, Zhang called for deepening and expanding “AI+” by using application scenarios as a driver, consolidating the technological foundation of computing power, algorithms, and data, and accelerating the development of industry-specific vertical models. This push aligns with President Xi Jinping’s concept of “new quality productive forces” (新质生产力), which prioritizes innovation-driven development and high-tech industries as engines of future growth.
Quality Management and Anti-Counterfeiting at Yiwu
At the Yiwu International Trade Market — the world’s largest wholesale market for small commodities — Zhang shifted focus to quality brand management and e-commerce regulation. He stressed the principle of “quality first, winning through quality,” encouraging enterprises to establish brand cultivation systems and create premium products through innovation. He also called for strict legal action against brand counterfeiting and trademark infringement, signaling heightened attention to intellectual property protection in China’s export sector as Chinese products face increasing scrutiny in international markets.
Analysis: A Strategic Signal
The choice of enterprises visited — spanning cutting-edge BCI technology, advanced robotics, and traditional textile manufacturing — reflects Beijing’s dual-track strategy of nurturing frontier innovation while upgrading conventional industries. The visit to Deep Robotics, which is pursuing a public listing, signals high-level government support for AI and robotics companies seeking capital market access. As CCTV English noted, Zhang emphasized empowering new industrialization through AI to “continuously foster new quality productive forces.”
What’s Next
While inspection tours are routine for senior Chinese leaders, the specific policy emphasis of this visit — particularly on AI integration and quality management — provides insight into Beijing’s immediate economic priorities. Market watchers will be looking for concrete policy announcements or funding initiatives in the coming weeks, particularly regarding support for AI startups seeking public listings and new anti-counterfeiting measures for export platforms. Zhejiang, as a bellwether province for China’s digital economy, may see accelerated policy experimentation in these areas.
Reporting based on Xinhua News Agency, People’s Daily, and CCTV English.