China's continuing technological push has seen the country propose the idea of creating 'new forms of smart economy' for the first time in this year's government work report, a move which officials say will bring more new opportunities to the development of the rapidly-expanding AI industries.

Chinese Premier Li Qiang delivered the government work report on Thursday at the opening meeting of the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC), the country's top legislature, with the report setting out the country's main goals for the year.

The report stated that China will advance and expand its "AI Plus" initiative this year, promote faster application of new-generation intelligent terminals and AI agents, and encourage large-scale commercial application of AI in key sectors and fields.

Officials from the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) believe that these aims will enable China to further press ahead with the application of "new quality productive forces", a new growth model which stresses sci-tech innovation to drive development, into wider industrial fields.

"In terms of developing 'new quality productive forces' this year, we will place greater emphasis on industrial demand orientation and the large-scale application at the implementation end. Good technologies and high-quality products are refined through use and require accelerated iteration. China possesses the advantage of massive application scenarios. Accelerating the cultivation and opening of such scenarios will allow this new type of policy support tool to continue playing an effective role," said Guo Liyan, deputy director of the NDRC's Economic Research Institute.

"We have consistently emphasized that artificial intelligence must be better integrated with our manufacturing strengths and market advantages. This year, building on that foundation, there is a further requirement to promote the commercialization and large-scale application of AI in key industries and sectors," said Liu Zhi, director, of Artificial Intelligence Department of the NDRC's National Information Center.

Liu added that the phrasing of "creating new forms of smart economy" indicates that the depth and breadth of AI's integration with the economy and society will be further enhanced.

"The Government Work Report this year also said for the first time that the government will take more effective measures to facilitate employment and entrepreneurship through better adaption to the development of AI technologies. This reflects the principle of 'AI for good' and will actively steer China's development of AI towards a beneficial, safe, fair, healthy, and orderly direction," she said.

China's core AI industry was valued at more than 1.2 trillion yuan (around 174 billion U.S. dollars) in 2025, as the technology is emerging as a powerful driver for high-quality economic development, while the number of AI companies in the country surpassed 6,200 last year.