Illustration: Liu Xiangya/GT

China's imports of mechanical and electrical products rose by 5.8 percent year-on-year in the first seven months, with the import value of automatic data processing equipment and components surging by as much as 41.8 percent year-on-year, according to customs data released on Thursday.

This rapid growth reflects the swift development of China's high-end manufacturing and digital economy, despite Washington's technological blockades and containment, as well as the ongoing political interference in global industrial chain cooperation. The emphasis on a technological and innovation-driven approach is helping China enhance its position in the global industrial value chain amid challenges.

The sharp rise in imports of automatic data processing equipment and components indicates strong domestic demand for high-performance computing, automation, and digital infrastructure - critical foundations for sectors such as smart manufacturing, artificial intelligence (AI), and cloud computing. These sectors are central to China's broader digital transformation.

The rapid development of these sectors has benefited from China's continued investment and technological innovation in the electronic information industry and widespread adoption of emerging technologies such as 5G, AI, and big data. Infrastructure construction related to the digital economy is accelerating, boosting the need for advanced equipment and components. 

At the same time, the country is strengthening its research and development capacity. The increasing imports of high-end equipment complement the progress made in key strategic fields such as semiconductors and integrated circuits. These imports are now more aligned with goals such as industrial upgrading and technological breakthroughs. The ability to absorb advanced technologies, enhance system integration, and pursue indigenous innovation is growing rapidly.

As a result, Chinese manufacturing is evolving from a processing-centered model into one led by technology and innovation. This shift is reinforcing its competitiveness and key position in the global industrial value chain.

This transformation is not confined to imports. China's export structure is also undergoing optimization. According to customs data, China's exports of high-tech products grew by 6 percent year-on-year in the first seven months, maintaining the steady upward momentum seen in previous months. 

This sustained growth highlights the increasing global competitiveness of China's innovation-driven industries and reflects the country's ongoing shift toward higher value-added manufacturing and technology exports.

These changes have enhanced the resilience of China's foreign trade, enabling it to better withstand external pressures such as tariff barriers and supply chain disruptions, while cultivating new growth engines.

China's efforts to upgrade its industrial structure go hand-in-hand with broader commitments to openness and international collaboration. As it deepens trade and industrial ties with countries participating in the Belt and Road Initiative - where mechanical and electrical products are becoming major traded goods - China is playing an increasingly active role in supporting the stability and sustainability of global supply chains.

In outlining plans for economic work in the second half of the year, China's National Development and Reform Commission, Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, and other relevant departments have reaffirmed their focus on fostering the growth of new quality productive forces. This includes promoting the integration of AI through the "AI+" initiative, stimulating innovation in the digital economy, and accelerating technological advancement.

Efforts will also be intensified to drive high-quality development across key industrial chains, strengthen the synergy between technological and industrial innovation, and deepen the application of digital technologies across sectors to empower transformation and upgrading.

These initiatives will continue to boost domestic demand for industrial internet platforms, intelligent equipment, and automated production lines. The resulting import growth channels advanced technologies directly into production processes, accelerating the modernization of China's industrial base.

China's demand for imported mechanical and electrical products is expected to remain strong. Continued investment in high-end manufacturing and digital technologies will not only facilitate domestic industrial upgrading but also further cement China's position in global value chains. Through ongoing technological innovation and international cooperation, China is poised to contribute meaningfully to the optimization and advancement of global industrial networks.

The author is a reporter with the Global Times. bizopinion@globaltimes.com.cn