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China's technological leap: fueling global innovation through cooperation
By Li Tielin, People's Daily
A new energy vehicle (NEV) owner charges her car at a local station in Xiamadong village, Badong county, Enshi Tujia and Miao autonomous prefecture, central China's Hubei province. (Photo by Jiao Guobin/People's Daily Online)
Recent developments in China's auto industry have sparked significant discussions, as Chinese automakers increasingly share cutting-edge technologies with global partners. In a notable example, Dongfeng Motor's new energy vehicle (NEV) brands, including Voyah, have reportedly begun exchanging technologies with joint-venture partners such as Dongfeng Nissan.
This trend is not isolated. Xpeng is collaborating with Volkswagen Group China on electric vehicle development, while SAIC Motor has joined hands with Volkswagen's premium brand Audi to develop a digital platform for intelligent and electric vehicles.
In a further sign of strategic cooperation, Chinese autonomous driving company Pony.ai has forged a joint venture with GAC Toyota Motor and Toyota China Investment, highlighting a broadening alliance between Chinese innovators and global industry leaders.
Historically, foreign automakers held sway over the global car market, with joint ventures serving as the primary conduit for Chinese companies to learn advanced manufacturing techniques and management expertise. These early partnerships laid the groundwork for China's burgeoning industrial landscape. Today, however, the collaborative dynamic has shifted dramatically.
Breakthroughs in core NEV technologies - including batteries, electric motors, and sophisticated control systems - as well as advances in intelligent driving, have elevated Chinese brands from mere technology learners to industry leaders. Once characterized by an exchange of market access for technological know-how, these joint ventures now increasingly see Chinese firms providing critical technological support to their global partners.
The transition from follower to leader in the NEV sector has been driven by several factors. Foremost among these is a commitment to independent innovation, demonstrated by the domestic development of high-performance chips, LiDAR systems, hybrid technologies, and autonomous driving.
Equally important has been the collaborative effort across the industry, bolstered by supportive government policies, robust research and development, better collaboration between an effective market and a proactive government, a comprehensive industrial ecosystem, and a huge market. Measures such as the proliferation of EV charging infrastructure, targeted tax exemptions, and pilot programs transitioning public transportation to electric vehicles have collectively spurred this rapid advancement.
Moreover, Chinese NEV manufacturers have become deeply integrated into global industrial and supply chains, expanding their international presence and broadening their service to global markets. Automakers such as Geely, Changan, and Chery have unveiled new global strategies this year, with plans for new overseas manufacturing facilities moving forward at a rapid pace.
The evolution of China's NEV industry - from a reliance on imported technologies to becoming a contributor on the global stage - reflects the nation's broader commitment to openness and international collaboration. This approach is vividly illustrated by the deployment of DeepSeek, China's large artificial intelligence (AI) model, at the data center of Saudi Arabia's Aramco.
Meanwhile, China's lunar probe Chang'e-6 carried scientific instruments developed through international cooperation - a negative ion analyzer from the European Space Agency, and a radon gas detector from France. British startup Volklec has reached a licensing agreement with China's Far East Battery to use its technology to make batteries for energy storage and electric vehicles, further cementing cross-border collaboration.
Increasingly, Chinese scientific and technological innovations are bearing fruit around the world, demonstrating that they are not developed solely for national benefit but foster opportunities through exchanges and cooperation. This fosters the sharing of achievements, encourages ecosystem co-creation, and supports common development on a global scale.
Foreign scholars now view China as an "enabler," a nation leveraging trade, capital exports, and technology transfer to promote more equitable global development and address long-standing global disparities. As a beneficiary of international scientific and technological exchanges, China is actively embracing its role in fostering open, fair, just, and non-discriminatory international cooperation in the field of science and technology.
Amid a new round of technological revolution and industrial transformation - driven by breakthroughs in AI, quantum technology, and biotechnology - the need for exchanges of ideas and better resource allocation has never been greater. Isolationist approaches like "decoupling and breaking chains" and "small courtyard and high wall" will only hinder technological progress.
While technological competition is inevitable, framing it as a zero-sum game overlooks the vast potential for shared success. The development of China's NEV sector offers a compelling experience: openness and cooperation create opportunities for mutual benefit, fostering a global ecosystem where innovation thrives.
By intensifying its commitment to technological innovation and international cooperation, China is not only enhancing its own industrial landscape but also contributing to the advancement of technology worldwide, reinforcing the idea that progress is best achieved through partnership rather than division.
This trend is not isolated. Xpeng is collaborating with Volkswagen Group China on electric vehicle development, while SAIC Motor has joined hands with Volkswagen's premium brand Audi to develop a digital platform for intelligent and electric vehicles.
In a further sign of strategic cooperation, Chinese autonomous driving company Pony.ai has forged a joint venture with GAC Toyota Motor and Toyota China Investment, highlighting a broadening alliance between Chinese innovators and global industry leaders.
Historically, foreign automakers held sway over the global car market, with joint ventures serving as the primary conduit for Chinese companies to learn advanced manufacturing techniques and management expertise. These early partnerships laid the groundwork for China's burgeoning industrial landscape. Today, however, the collaborative dynamic has shifted dramatically.
Breakthroughs in core NEV technologies - including batteries, electric motors, and sophisticated control systems - as well as advances in intelligent driving, have elevated Chinese brands from mere technology learners to industry leaders. Once characterized by an exchange of market access for technological know-how, these joint ventures now increasingly see Chinese firms providing critical technological support to their global partners.
The transition from follower to leader in the NEV sector has been driven by several factors. Foremost among these is a commitment to independent innovation, demonstrated by the domestic development of high-performance chips, LiDAR systems, hybrid technologies, and autonomous driving.
Equally important has been the collaborative effort across the industry, bolstered by supportive government policies, robust research and development, better collaboration between an effective market and a proactive government, a comprehensive industrial ecosystem, and a huge market. Measures such as the proliferation of EV charging infrastructure, targeted tax exemptions, and pilot programs transitioning public transportation to electric vehicles have collectively spurred this rapid advancement.
Moreover, Chinese NEV manufacturers have become deeply integrated into global industrial and supply chains, expanding their international presence and broadening their service to global markets. Automakers such as Geely, Changan, and Chery have unveiled new global strategies this year, with plans for new overseas manufacturing facilities moving forward at a rapid pace.
The evolution of China's NEV industry - from a reliance on imported technologies to becoming a contributor on the global stage - reflects the nation's broader commitment to openness and international collaboration. This approach is vividly illustrated by the deployment of DeepSeek, China's large artificial intelligence (AI) model, at the data center of Saudi Arabia's Aramco.
Meanwhile, China's lunar probe Chang'e-6 carried scientific instruments developed through international cooperation - a negative ion analyzer from the European Space Agency, and a radon gas detector from France. British startup Volklec has reached a licensing agreement with China's Far East Battery to use its technology to make batteries for energy storage and electric vehicles, further cementing cross-border collaboration.
Increasingly, Chinese scientific and technological innovations are bearing fruit around the world, demonstrating that they are not developed solely for national benefit but foster opportunities through exchanges and cooperation. This fosters the sharing of achievements, encourages ecosystem co-creation, and supports common development on a global scale.
Foreign scholars now view China as an "enabler," a nation leveraging trade, capital exports, and technology transfer to promote more equitable global development and address long-standing global disparities. As a beneficiary of international scientific and technological exchanges, China is actively embracing its role in fostering open, fair, just, and non-discriminatory international cooperation in the field of science and technology.
Amid a new round of technological revolution and industrial transformation - driven by breakthroughs in AI, quantum technology, and biotechnology - the need for exchanges of ideas and better resource allocation has never been greater. Isolationist approaches like "decoupling and breaking chains" and "small courtyard and high wall" will only hinder technological progress.
While technological competition is inevitable, framing it as a zero-sum game overlooks the vast potential for shared success. The development of China's NEV sector offers a compelling experience: openness and cooperation create opportunities for mutual benefit, fostering a global ecosystem where innovation thrives.
By intensifying its commitment to technological innovation and international cooperation, China is not only enhancing its own industrial landscape but also contributing to the advancement of technology worldwide, reinforcing the idea that progress is best achieved through partnership rather than division.
