DeepSeek's artificial intelligence (AI) reasoning model, made a market-shaking debut, while Chinese film Ne Zha 2 set global box office records, highlighting China's animation capabilities. Simultaneously, humanoid robots made by Unitree Robotics took centre stage at the China Media Group Spring Festival gala, bringing focus to how Hangzhou has emerged as an incubator for some of the most exciting new-gen tech startups in the world. Chinese scientists have unveiled a 105-qubit superconducting quantum computer prototype named Zuchongzhi 3. It’s capable of processing tasks at speeds a quadrillion times faster than the world's most powerful supercomputer and a million times faster than Google's latest published results. Just as DeepSeek's reasoning model followed closely after a similar but costlier ChatGPT offering, Zuchongzhi 3 was unveiled just a week after Microsoft announced its Majorana 1 quantum chip. These developments suggest China is matching US innovation, and even surpassing it in some areas. However, unlike in US's case, the trait of protectionism and being 'closed' doesn't typify China's progress. While the US imposes curbs on high-tech exports to China in an effort to stem AI progress, China has adopted an inclusive approach, sharing its innovations and capabilities with the world. Lou Qinjian, spokesperson for the third session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC), cited DeepSeek as one important item in a pattern of encouraging wider and more inclusive adoption of path-breaking technologies. Qinjian said, "DeepSeek follows an open source technological path. Such an open source approach has facilitated the wider application of AI technologies worldwide and contributed to China's wisdom to the world. Through DeepSeek, one can see China's innovative and inclusive approach in sci-tech development." China's systematic pursuit of new quality productive forces in various sectors has now even made its way to agriculture, as emphasised in the 'No.1 central document' of 2025 released on 23 February. The successful integration of AI, drones, robots and genetics in farming would present models and use cases for numerous countries, particularly in the Global South. Zhao Hong, chief physician of the Cancer Institute and Hospitals, CAMS, highlighted the innovation in the pharma space. "A recent headline is about an unknown Chinese firm, beating the world’s top cancer drug. It shows how more therapies from China are exported overseas. We are catching up with the others and we gradually innovate to lead the way," he said. He referred to Ivonescimab, made by Chinese biotech company Akeso, which beat US pharma giant Merck's bestselling Cancer treatment drug Keytruda in a trial, per CNN. A success of this type could easily have a global scope. Even in space, the formula is inclusion. Beyond maintaining a fully operational space station, China is set to pave the way for developing countries to send their astronauts aboard the Tiangong space station, even signing an agreement to this effect recently. China’s push for scientific leadership is evident. The Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and Chinese Academy of Engineering (CAE) last week unveiled separate lists of the top 10 Global and Chinese sci-tech achievements of 2024. The idea that science and technology should balance national aspirations with global inclusivity is powerful and can drive meaningful change. As the world's second largest economy, China's increasing competence and ability to pursue ambitious endeavours present opportunities for all-round progress. Ankit Prasad is a business commentator at CGTN.
