The value of China’s core artificial intelligence (AI) industry reached nearly 600 billion yuan (about $83.45 billion) by April 2025, according to the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC).
These insights were presented in an introduction to China’s AI development by NDRC official Huang Ru at the China-Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Forum, held in north China’s Tianjin Municipality on May 29, as reported by Xinhua News Agency.
Huang emphasized that China’s AI patent applications have exceeded 1.5 million, representing nearly 40 percent of the global total.
China has achieved comprehensive advancements in AI development, cultivating a robust AI industrial ecosystem. The nation is home to over 400 “little giant” firms—specialized small and medium-sized enterprises that excel in niche AI markets, including the AI innovator DeepSeek.
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The SCO is a multifaceted regional cooperation organization that encompasses the largest area and population in the world, boasting vast data resources and diverse AI application scenarios.
Huang further remarked that the accelerating cooperation on AI technology and applications will invigorate the SCO’s economic and social development, promoting inclusive global growth and acting as a bridge to span the global digital divide.
