INTERNATIONAL: China`s artificial intelligence and high-tech industries continued to expand rapidly during the first half of the year, with tens of thousands of new companies established in emerging technology sectors, even as businesses in some traditional clean-energy industries underwent market consolidation.

The country`s top market regulator said on Saturday that enterprises in the new energy vehicle (NEV), photovoltaic (PV) and lithium battery sectors experienced an orderly market exit during the period, while investment and entrepreneurial activity continued to accelerate in emerging industries.

According to the State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR), the registrations of 7,632 new energy vehicle-related companies, 5,089 photovoltaic enterprises and 155 lithium battery manufacturers were cancelled during the first six months of the year. The figures represented year-on-year increases of 4.6 percent, 8.3 percent and 12.3 percent, respectively.

At the same time, China`s frontier technology sectors maintained strong momentum.

During the first half of the year, 55,000 new companies were established in the generative artificial intelligence sector, marking a 28 percent increase compared with the same period last year.

The humanoid robotics industry expanded even more rapidly, with 116,000 new enterprises registered during the period, up 9.5 percent year on year. The figures highlight growing investment and entrepreneurial activity in emerging industries, which are expected to become new engines of China`s future economic growth.

China`s high-tech manufacturing sector also continued to strengthen. By the end of June, the country had 330,000 high-tech manufacturing enterprises, including 15,000 new companies established during the first half of the year.

The latest data underscore China`s continued focus on fostering innovation-driven growth, with artificial intelligence, robotics and advanced manufacturing playing an increasingly important role in the country`s industrial transformation and long-term economic development.

Source: Hashim, Lutfor, China Media Group (CMG).