Q5 China's Outline of the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026–30) positions artificial intelligence as a key driver of "new productive forces", emphasizing the "AI+" initiative, breakthroughs in core technologies, and the rise of an intelligent economy. In 2025, the scale of China's core AI industry exceeded 1.2 trillion yuan, while open-source large models released by Chinese companies recorded the highest number of downloads globally. At the same time, China's R&D spending is expected to maintain annual growth of around 7 percent, alongside increased financial support for high-tech enterprises, with outstanding technology loans reaching 3.63 trillion yuan ($504 billion)—up nearly 20 percent year on year.

In this context, how do you assess China's policy-guided and system-driven approach to AI development? How might this technology-driven transformation reshape China's labor structure and leadership demands? In a world of both competition and coordination in AI, what role could China play in shaping global AI governance?

China's system-driven approach to AI development is both pragmatic and effective. By aligning policy, capital, and industrial strategy, it accelerates adoption at scale. This creates a powerful feedback loop between technological development and real-world application. Clearly, the combination of scale, tech talent, plus centralized data-harnessing and high levels of tech and AI adoption is hugely advantageous and turns China into a key player in AI.

The impact on the labor market will be significant. As in other economies, routine cognitive work will decline, while demand for high-skill, adaptive roles will increase. However, China's coordinated approach may allow it to manage this transition more proactively, particularly through reskilling and industrial policy.

In terms of leadership, the emphasis will shift toward adaptability, systems thinking, and execution at scale. Leaders will need to navigate both technological complexity and organizational transformation simultaneously.

Globally, China has an opportunity to play a constructive role in AI governance, particularly by contributing to standards around safety, transparency, and ethical use. In a domain where competition is inevitable, coordination remains essential. The countries that shape the rules will ultimately shape the trajectory of technology.