To implement the "innovation-driven development" strategy for boosting emerging industries and a digital economy, China has launched a series of initiatives. Against this backdrop, China's National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) shared some details in Beijing Friday.

A strong year for emerging industries has experts predicting more of the same trends for the foreseeable future. For the first seven months of 2018, Chinese high-tech manufacturing industries enjoyed 11.6 percent year-on-year growth. That growth was 8.6 percent for emerging industries like new energy vehicles, industrial robots and intelligent devices. Innovative regions like Sichuan and Anhui provinces and the Shenzhen special economic zone of China have established their own innovation systems and new development models.

CAI YU, DEPUTY DIRECTOR DEVELOPMENT AND REFORM COMMISSION OF SHENZHEN MUNICIPALITY "Shenzhen now is focusing on building the whole chain of strategic emerging industries. In 2017, they accounted for about 40 percent of the city's GDP. International patent applications are at about 7,900. In addition, some Hong Kong-Shenzhen youth innovation and entrepreneurship bases have been also established for providing a broader platform for young people."

Now, the Chinese economy is in a new stage of high-quality development centered around innovation and technology. For the next step, authorities aim to create a better environment for the national innovation-driven development strategy.

WU HAO, INSPECTOR HIGH TECH INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND REFORM COMMISSION OF CHINA "We'll consolidate the development of innovation infrastructure, and at the same time, optimize the institutional environment. We'll focus on making efforts to build three globally influential science and technology innovation centers in Beijing, Shanghai and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay area respectively. Centering on the core key technologies, we'll launch a number of national industrial innovation centers to establish the innovation network."

Facing a currently complicated international development situation with China-US trade friction, authorities say sticking to an innovation strategy as a new driving force for development is necessary. They feel it can create a better business and investment environment for local and foreign enterprises in the diversified global market.