By Li Hongxing, People’s Daily

One way to gauge a region’s appeal to investors and entrepreneurs is to listen to those already embedded in its ecosystem. Take a European founder based in Shenzhen, south China’s Guangdong province, who has called the city home for over a decade. He reports receiving daily inquiries from overseas startup leaders eager to visit, explore partnerships, or establish operations in China.

The steady stream of visitors eager to explore Shenzhen and its tech companies offers a glimpse into the growing global interest in China’s innovation ecosystem.

This is no fleeting trend. It underscores investors’ confidence in China and their optimism about the country’s prospects. The steady flow of overseas technology delegations, increasingly regular cross-border business discussions, and growing interest in “looking east” go beyond conventional economic and trade ties. They offer a vivid illustration of how the world is gaining a new understanding of China and seeking opportunities for cooperation and shared development.

Increasingly, entrepreneurs, researchers, and investment institutions from around the world are traveling to China to learn firsthand about its innovation mechanisms, industrial dynamics, and development pathways. Looking back at China’s evolving economic and trade ties with the world, this surging eastward focus marks a profound shift and more comprehensive, objective recognition of China’s development.

This transition from trade-centric partnerships to co-innovation rests on tangible structural advantages. Foremost among them is industrial resilience. While several major economies face deindustrialization pressures and cyclical volatility, China has maintained steady growth alongside continuous upgrading. Its comprehensive manufacturing base, extensive infrastructure networks, and large domestic consumer market provide a natural shock absorber, enabling predictable expansion even amid global headwinds.

Clustering amplifies this advantage. At a robot industrial park in Foshan, Guangdong province, for example, more than 90 percent of the components and other products needed across the supply chain can be sourced within the park. A design revised in the morning can undergo testing on the very same day. Industrial clustering, closely connected supply chains, consistent policies, and an open, inclusive market give investors at home and abroad the confidence to make long-term commitments and develop their businesses in China.

If industrial resilience provides the foundation, China’s vibrant innovation ecosystem and the rapid development of new quality productive forces are what give the country its enduring appeal.

Confidence in China’s development rests on its innovation capabilities. From basic research to practical applications, breakthroughs are emerging across a wide range of technological fields. 

These efforts are yielding visible results. In northwestern China, renewable energy projects in the Gobi Desert are powering data centers, transforming cities such as Ulanqab in Inner Mongolia and Qingyang in Gansu province into key nodes in the national computing network. 

Meanwhile, in Hefei, east China’s Anhui province, the experimental nuclear fusion device known as an “artificial sun” and the Zuchongzhi 3.0 quantum computing prototype continue to set world records, strengthening China’s position in frontier technologies. 

A recent report released by the World Intellectual Property Organization shows that China has 25 of the world’s top 100 innovation clusters, ranking first globally for the fourth consecutive year.

The more China innovates, the more the world stands to benefit. Some international observers have noted China’s increasingly important role in the global innovation ecosystem, while others have praised Chinese developers for pushing the boundaries of innovation every day. From quantitative growth to qualitative breakthroughs, and from individual advances to progress across entire systems, the vitality and rapid development of China’s innovation sector demonstrate that innovation can be made anywhere, and that practical action is what turns pioneers into leaders.

A strong industrial foundation and vibrant innovation are not enough on their own. They also need a favorable environment where they can flourish. By further opening up and continuously building a first-rate business environment that is market-oriented, law-based, and internationalized, China is strengthening the institutional foundations for attracting global resources and building momentum for shared development.

The advantages of this environment are reflected in more targeted services and the effective implementation of practical policies. Across China, for example, policies on entry visas, length of stay, residence, and support for integration are being improved to help foreign professionals put down roots, develop their careers, and grow their businesses. 

From more targeted industrial policies and efficient government services to robust intellectual property protection and an open, diverse innovation culture, China is introducing concrete reforms that make its environment more inclusive and its institutions more supportive, further enhancing its appeal as a place to develop and invest.

Looking beyond the surface reveals the deeper reasons behind the growing interest in China’s innovation ecosystem. The visible sign is the steady stream of visiting delegations; beyond that lie expanding opportunities for cooperation; at the deepest level is global confidence in China’s industrial strength, innovation capabilities, and institutional environment. Against the backdrop of global industrial transformation and rapid technological change, this interest reflects a rational assessment by market participants.

Looking ahead, China will continue to consolidate its foundations for development with the same persistence as a craftsman driving a nail, pursue new heights in innovation with the determination of a climber, and expand international cooperation with an open and inclusive mindset. By doing so, China can turn the growing global interest in “looking east” into mutually beneficial outcomes, demonstrating that China’s success can contribute to a better future for the world.

By Gu Yekai, People’s Daily

The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) recently released its 2026 ranking of the world’s top 100 innovation clusters. China accounted for 25 clusters on the list, ranking first globally for the fourth consecutive year. The Shenzhen-Hong Kong-Guangzhou, Beijing, and Shanghai-Suzhou clusters all ranked among the top 10.

The ranking identifies regions with concentrated innovation activity based on indicators including international patent applications, scientific publications, and venture capital transactions. China’s consistent strong showing on the list, with innovation clusters flourishing across multiple regions, demonstrates both the scale and depth of its innovation ecosystem.

This leadership reflects years of strategic investment in coordinated regional tech development. Regional innovation networks have become a key pillar of the national innovation framework and provide a vital foundation for building China into a leading country in science and technology. 

Coordinated development in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region has fostered deeper collaboration, with Beijing focusing on research and development while Tianjin and Hebei translate research findings into manufacturing applications. 

Meanwhile, the integrated development of the Yangtze River Delta has strengthened links among innovation hubs along the G60 Science and Technology Innovation Corridor, creating a cross-regional collaborative innovation platform spanning nine cities. 

Stronger regional collaboration has cultivated a sound pattern of innovation with multiple hubs working in concert.

Beyond sheer numbers, the rankings also signal a comprehensive upgrade across China’s broader innovation system.

Innovation clusters capture the close links among research institutions, businesses, talent, and investment. In recent years, China has accelerated the commercialization of scientific and technological advances while nurturing and expanding new quality productive forces. Many of the innovation clusters on the list are also major industrial hubs. 

Wuhan in central China’s Hubei province, ranked 17th, saw the value added of its industrial enterprises above the designated size in high-tech manufacturing rise 65.7 percent year on year in the first half of this year, as its optoelectronics and information technology industries gathered pace. Ningde in Fujian province, meanwhile, climbed 24 places in the rankings, driven in large part by innovation in its power battery industry.

This virtuous cycle between innovation and development is enabling more emerging and future-oriented industries to gain momentum and grow rapidly within these clusters.

China’s leading position in the number of top 100 global innovation clusters is also creating valuable opportunities for global partners.

An increasing number of foreign-invested companies are choosing to conduct research and pursue innovation in China, with many establishing R&D centers in these clusters. In the first seven months of this year, foreign applicants filed more than 42,000 invention patent applications in China. In 2025, foreign investment actually utilized in scientific research and technical services accounted for nearly 1/5 of China’s total utilized foreign investment.

China is also committed to sharing the benefits of innovation through openness and cooperation. In the first half of this year, Chinese developers of innovative drugs reached 81 licensing deals with overseas partners, while industrial robots made in China were exported to 141 countries and regions. 

As Carsten Fink, WIPO’s chief economist, noted, Chinese innovation is pushing the frontiers of global science and technology across an expanding range of fields, with countries around the world increasingly benefiting from it.

Today, global innovation resources are increasingly converging on China through its innovation clusters.

By Zhou Shanshan, People’s Daily

The journey from Ruijin in east China’s Jiangxi province to Yan’an in northwest China’s Shaanxi province has changed dramatically over time.

In the past, the Chinese Workers’ and Peasants’ Red Army soldiers, driven by a profound sense of mission, trekked roughly 12,500 kilometers across China wearing straw sandals, forging a path to survival through the arduous Long March. Today, the two cities are directly linked by a high-speed railway. The 1,857-kilometer journey takes just 11 hours and 32 minutes, offering a smooth and efficient travel experience.

This year marks the 90th anniversary of the successful conclusion of the Long March. A single train ticket now bridges not only two distant cities but also two distinct eras. The transformation from a desperate struggle for survival to an ongoing drive for regional revitalization mirrors the sweeping transformations China has experienced.

Aboard the train are descendants of Red Army soldiers, carrying straw sandals and certificates commemorating fallen martyrs as they travel to Yan’an on behalf of relatives who sacrificed their lives during the Long March. Other passengers, inspired by the Long March spirit, have embarked on this red-themed journey across thousands of kilometers.

During the Long March, both Ruijin and Yan’an served as vital centers of China’s revolutionary cause. The Red Army soldiers crossed snow-capped mountains and vast grasslands, broke through successive enemy blockades and paved the way forward with blood and sacrifice. They fought to save a war-torn China and secure a life of independence and happiness for the people.

Today, those early aspirations have taken root. The poverty and isolation that once defined these regions have given way to vibrant communities and renewed economic vitality.

Ruijin has steadily cultivated distinctive industries, including precision manufacturing, design-focused toy production, and textiles, while continuously improving public services and living standards. In Yan’an, apple cultivation has evolved from a modest agricultural activity into a major economic pillar. Environmental restoration has accompanied this growth, lifting fruit farmers out of poverty and transforming the city into a thriving community characterized by ecological health, industrial vitality, and improved livelihoods. The development of Ruijin and Yan’an offers a vivid example of how former revolutionary base areas are revitalizing.

This transformation extends far beyond the two cities. Jinggangshan, an old revolutionary base in Jiangxi, has shaken off poverty by developing red tourism and leveraging its ecological resources. Xibaipo, also an old revolutionary base in north China’s Hebei province, is promoting the integrated development of agriculture, culture, and red tourism, improving the quality of life for residents. In the Dabie Mountains, seven counties and county-level cities across three provinces have formed an alliance to develop red tourism, charting a new course for regional growth. Across China, former revolutionary base areas are steadily advancing toward shared prosperity.

What has driven these transformations? The answer may lie in the roads themselves. A road construction plan dating back to 1933, preserved in Ruijin, reflects revolutionary forebears’ hopes for roads that would connect communities and bring peace and prosperity.

Today, an extensive network of national transportation corridors connects urban and rural areas and links mountains with the sea, reaching major revolutionary landmarks such as Ruijin, Zunyi in Guizhou province, and Yan’an. The vision of convenient travel for people and smooth flows of goods is steadily becoming a reality.

The transformation from having no way forward to a vast network of well-connected roads reflects more than improvements in physical infrastructure. At its heart is the vitality of the path China has chosen: one rooted in the country’s realities, attuned to the needs of the times and supported by its people. This path provides a solid foundation for revitalizing former revolutionary base areas and advancing national rejuvenation.

The roads have been paved, yet the march continues. China is embarking on a “new Long March,” with new challenges to overcome: repeated setbacks in laboratories, critical technological bottlenecks across industrial supply chains, and the many risks and challenges on the path to high-quality development.

The tougher the challenges, the more important it is to draw strength from the spirit of the Long March, a precious spiritual legacy. The Long March National Cultural Park extends across 15 provincial-level regions along the route of the epic expedition, bringing history to life at former revolutionary sites and helping visitors connect with Long March stories.

Here, history is no longer confined to static exhibits; it has become a living source of inspiration. By inspiring people through red-themed resources and passing the revolutionary legacy down through generations, China is forging a profound connection between the aspirations of the past and the achievements of today, drawing lasting spiritual strength for the “new Long March.”