For years, China’s economic rise was explained through scale, low costs and manufacturing efficiency. That explanation no longer fits. What China is building today is more advanced – and more strategic – and I had the chance to see it first-hand.
As 2026 begins, China is positioning itself as a leading force behind what it calls the AI-plus intelligence economy: an economy in which artificial intelligence is not a standalone sector, but a multiplier embedded across every industry. This shift is deliberate, planned and already visible in data, companies and institutions.
China’s 15th Five-Year Plan, a pivotal phase in the country’s “path to modernisation” aimed at becoming a globally leading economy and superpower by 2049, places AI-plus at its core.
Continue Reading on The National UAE
This preview shows approximately 15% of the article. Read the full story on the publisher's website to support quality journalism.