Visitors participated in a large-scale automobile exhibition in Shanghai on April 25, 2025.
Hector abdicated | AFP | Getty Images
The report comes from this week's CNBC China Connect Newsletter, which provides you with insights and analysis on promoting the world's second largest economy. Every week, we explore China’s biggest business story, reduce the shift to the market and help you set it up in the coming week. Like what you saw? You can subscribe here.
China's technology community is not distracted by whether the United States and China will talk about trade.
From new AI models to the world's largest auto show, Chinese tech companies are showing off new development projects. Online delivery company JD.com and Meituan Even publicly compete for users, causing the heyday of China's Internet prosperity Alibaba.
At the opening ceremony of the Shanghai Auto Show on April 23, China's electric vehicle giant Bit Five new models announced Zeekr The new hybrid 9X SUV was launched for the first time. Robotaxi Operator pony Three new vehicles are shown claiming to cut the cost of autonomous driving by 70%, which helps U.S.-listed companies closer to profitability.
A day ago, Huawei announced that this year, its latest driver assistance system will be able to automatically park a car, similar to the valet service of a restaurant. Huawei sells software to electric car manufacturers.
"The intense competition has driven innovation (China's new energy vehicles) ... we think it's still a decade away and is more or less within reach now," said Tu Le, founder and managing director of consulting firm Sino Auto Insights, who pointed to examples such as high-speed charging and driver assistance systems in mass-market cars.
Generative AI and supportive Chinese policies both play a role in local technology development.
iqiyiLast week, Beijing was called China's "Netflix", touting its AI tools that cut production costs and refine scripts. The company showed off its virtual studio set, and how Generative AI can quickly transform the style of a TV show into the style of a TV show using 3D animation.
"This conversion effect is impossible, and even in March," Liu Wenfeng, president of the IQIYI Infrastructure and Smart Content Distribution Business Group, told reporters in CNBC Translation. "Only recent technologies can achieve better consistency and stability in (generated) images."
But he warned that AI still has a long way to go, generating videos that show the same consistency of actors, products and scenes as live-action shots. Meanwhile, he said the efficiency of virtual production and AI support allows the company to respond faster to audience interests.
Other Chinese companies are also trying to use AI for video. On April 15, China's short video company Different An update to its AI video generation model Kling has raised concerns about the consequences of Hollywood by media blog The Ankler.
A few days after Clint upgraded, Alibaba released its latest open source AI video generation model, while Beijing-based startup Shengshu Technology upgraded the AI video product Vidu Q1, which claims to be "competing for movie-grade visuals." Alibaba also released its latest AI model, the Qwen 3, on Tuesday.
"We see a significant acceleration in AI investment in China," said Tim Wang, co-founder of Hong Kong-based Monolith Management.
"The major breakthroughs in the underlying model are closing the gap with global leaders, and we are optimistic about the future of consumer AI applications regardless of the current trade headlines," he said.
Chinese companies have also turned to e-commerce and technology tools to mitigate the impact of tariffs.
Xiaomi, vice president and general manager of e-commerce business at BAIDU, said hundreds of exporters are now using Baidu's Tech Company Company Company to sell products online through Rivestreams. She claims the technology cuts live streaming costs by more than 80% and has a higher purchase rate than hiring human live streamers.
Baidu released last week its claim to be a "more persuasive" virtual human, as well as a new AI model that is cheaper than previous versions.
Excitement surrounding Chinese artificial intelligence caught the eye in late January after local DeepSeek released free AI models and chatbots, which competed with Openai's Chandgpt. This breakthrough view is that the U.S. restrictions on China's acquisition of advanced semiconductors will limit local AI development.
Beijing-based Tourongbang Management Consulting General Manager Beijing-based Beijing said that especially for startups in key tech industries, the Chinese government has many policies to help them connect with local suppliers and get financing.
He said China has also increased efforts to develop and train talents. His consulting firm highlights national policies to attract individuals from outside China, especially those with PhDs in the fields of engineering and natural sciences.
Individual benefits include one-time expenditure of RMB 3 million ($410,000 to US$690,000) and a rental subsidy of RMB 800,000, while employers can also receive subsidies for most people’s wages and RMB 3 million in research funds.
The breakthroughs in DeepSeek and other Chinese technologies this year are accumulating years of research spending and educational development.
Even if this prediction comes true, it doesn't mean that it will be a straightforward path considering the overall economic headwind. Goldman Sachs noted that the first-quarter industrial profit data showed no growth outside the high-tech industry.
China's EU Chamber of Commerce said that China has not met all the lofty "2025" goals that were ten years ago.
Yichao Zhang, a partner at consulting firm Alixpartners, said fierce competition in China's electric vehicle industry also means its development has been stable. He noted that automakers will need to work harder to create unique brands, traditionally on the edge of foreign companies.
But as China quickly transforms into a global electric vehicle leader, Zhang expects China to dominate the local market and its international ambitions, no matter what.
China releases a plan to encourage companies to hire more graduates. At a senior Politburo meeting held on April 25, calling for targeted measures to help businesses face trade tensions, pay more attention to employment support.
U.S. President Donald Trump claims he spoke with Chinese President Xi Jinping. But there was no date and there was no contact in Beijing. Meanwhile, Xi Jinping emphasized the development of AI and technology during his trip to Shanghai on Tuesday. A few days ago, China's Finance Minister and Central Bank governor were both in Washington, D.C. for the IMF and World Bank spring meetings.
China is strengthening its alternative energy development to reduce its dependence on U.S. crude oil. The country said on Monday it approved five nuclear power projects while releasing plans to develop hydrogen research and services this year.
In a rough meeting on Wednesday, shares in China and Hong Kong turned between earnings and losses.
The CSI 300 in mainland China is flat, while Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index (including several major Chinese companies) rose 0.22% as of 11:20 a.m. local time. The CSI 300 lost more than 4%, while the Hang Seng index has risen nearly 10% so far this year.
China's government bond yields fell slightly in the benchmark 10 years to 1.625%.
Offshore Chinese yuan was even stronger when defeating Greenguard at 7.266.
Shanghai's comprehensive performance last year.
May 1 to 5: China Labor Day holiday. Mainland Stock Exchange is closed. The Hong Kong Stock Exchange is closed on May 1 and May 5.
May 2: U.S. imports of Chinese goods under $800 or below $800