CGTN poll: 93% expect Chinese manufacturing to deliver more innovation benefits

Chinese manufacturing has earned a new label on the global stage: China's new "new three." Having evolved from contract manufacturing of clothing, furniture and home appliances to leading the green energy revolution with new energy vehicles, lithium batteries and solar products, China is now making fresh strides in artificial intelligence, robotics and innovative pharmaceuticals, showcasing the remarkable momentum of its high-quality manufacturing transformation.

A global online survey conducted by CGTN shows that 93.1% of respondents believe the rise of the new "new three" demonstrates that Chinese manufacturing is offering original technologies, intelligent systems and solutions to the international market. They expect more innovation-driven benefits to be unlocked in the future.

According to data from the General Administration of Customs of China, China's exports of industrial robots rose 18.6% year on year in the first half of 2026. More than 10,000 intelligent bionic robots were exported to over 90 countries and regions worldwide. In addition, statistics from the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) show that the total value of out-licensing deals for China's innovative medicines reached approximately $110 billion.

In the survey, 87.7% of respondents believe these industries reflect China's strong manufacturing and innovation capabilities, while 87.2% believe the strengths of Chinese manufacturing lie not only in its production capacity, but also in its ability to define product and industry standards, integrate global resources and continuously drive innovation and industrial upgrading.

In recent years, China's major export products have undergone rapid upgrading, while the country's competitiveness in the global division of labor has continued to strengthen. In response to this trend, 83.8% of respondents believe China's manufacturing sector is accelerating its shift toward greener and more technology-driven development. Meanwhile, 89.2% believe the new "new three" will help drive China's manufacturing sector further up the global value chain, and 91.3% believe the competitiveness of Chinese manufacturing has evolved from a scale-based advantage to a comprehensive advantage combining quality, technology, branding and services.

As China's new "new three" go global, technological innovation is benefiting people around the world. According to the survey, 90.5% of respondents believe the technological innovations and breakthroughs associated with the new "new three" have enabled many developing countries to gain access to intelligent automation and advanced medical technologies at affordable costs. Another 89.5% believe China's new "new three" will create new opportunities for innovation and upgrading across global manufacturing.

The survey was released on CGTN's English, Spanish, French, Arabic and Russian platforms, with 3,339 netizens voting and sharing their views within 24 hours.