By South China Morning Post | Created at 2026-06-23 08:07:33 | Updated at 2026-06-23 09:42:43
1 hour ago
During an inspection of shipbuilding and nuclear power firms in China’s heavy industrial hub in the northeast, Premier Li Qiang pushed state-owned firms to achieve breakthroughs in high-end equipment manufacturing and to bolster the nation’s core industrial competitiveness.
“Dalian’s shipbuilding industry boasts a long history and a solid foundation in developing high-end equipment manufacturing,” Li was quoted as saying by Xinhua during his visit to a state-owned shipbuilder in the harbour city in Liaoning province on Monday.
He emphasised that the sector must closely track the international technological frontier, focus on securing continuous breakthroughs in key fields, and strengthen industrial exchanges and cooperation to build an advanced manufacturing cluster and a world-class shipbuilding base.
The premier’s comments came as shipbuilding has emerged as a key focal point in the geopolitical rivalry between Beijing and Washington. Being the world’s largest shipbuilder, China’s dominance has triggered heightened national security concerns in Washington, which sees
China’s commercial shipyards as a strategic dual-use threat capable of significantly outpacing America’s naval production.
While widely known for mass-producing standard cargo and bulk carriers, China’s shipbuilding sector is undergoing a technological pivot, catching up in ultra-high-value segments such as large liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers.
“High-end shipbuilding is characterised by advanced technology, high complexity and high added value,” Li was quoted as saying, adding that efforts should be made to reinforce the role of enterprises as the mainstay of innovation, accelerate research and development of key technologies, and cultivate a skilled workforce of technical experts and experienced industrial workers.
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