On October 22, the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Statistics released economic data for the first three quarters of the year, revealing that the city's GDP reached 38,415.9 billion yuan, reflecting a year-on-year growth rate of 5.6% at constant prices. Notably, the layout of new productive forces has accelerated, with the value added in strategic emerging industries and high-tech manufacturing above designated size growing by 17.9% and 9.9% respectively. Production volumes of lithium-ion batteries, new energy vehicles, wind turbine generators, service robots, and CNC metal cutting machine tools surged by 160%, 150%, 47.1%, 39.6%, and 19.1% respectively.
This report clearly illustrates that new productive forces, represented by high-end manufacturing, have become a core engine driving economic growth in Beijing and optimizing its economic structure, injecting strong vitality into the capital’s high-quality development. The high growth rates of 17.9% and 9.9%, along with the exponential increases in industrial product output, vividly depict a highly vibrant economy. This not only pertains to current growth but also shapes the future competitiveness of the city.
As China's political, cultural, international interaction, and technological innovation center, Beijing's economic structure has been characterized by a dominance of the service industry for a long time. However, the remarkable growth of 24.6% in the manufacturing of computers, telecommunications, and other electronic devices, coupled with the 150% increase in new energy vehicles' production, clearly indicates that the city’s industry is accelerating towards a "high-precision" structure.
At the heart of new productive forces lies innovation-driven development, with high-end manufacturing as the key area for supporting and transforming technological innovations. Beijing boasts the densest concentration of research institutes nationwide, the highest level of R&D investment, and the most vibrant innovation ecology, which provides it with unique advantages for developing high-end manufacturing. The data from the first three quarters precisely shows that this advantage can be efficiently translated from laboratories to production lines.
The explosive growth in the outputs of lithium-ion batteries and service robots is backed by breakthroughs in fundamental research, iterations in application technologies, and expansion in market demand. This indicates that Beijing has successfully established a virtuous cycle linking technology, industry, and finance. Moreover, the data emphasizes the systematic reshaping of Beijing's economic structure by high-end manufacturing.
The momentum of economic growth in Beijing has undergone a profound shift, paving the way for a more diversified and resilient high-end manufacturing industry cluster. Taking new energy vehicles as an example, the 150% increase in production not only stimulates vehicle manufacturing but also impacts upstream lithium-ion batteries, midstream smart control systems, and downstream charging stations and service networks. This "chain" development effect is a significant characteristic of high-end manufacturing, which constructs an industrial ecosystem characterized by mutual empowerment and collaborative development, significantly enhancing the economic's endogenous dynamics and risk resistance capabilities.
The comprehensive recovery of the five major equipment manufacturing sectors further corroborates this systemic revival trend. More importantly, Beijing's development of high-end manufacturing does not signify a return to traditional industrial models, but rather a high-end leap amidst the digital and intelligent wave. Beijing holds leading advantages in digital technologies such as artificial intelligence, big data, and industrial internet, providing a "digital foundation" for the transformation and upgrading of the manufacturing industry.
The rapid growth in the production of service robots and CNC machine tools signifies that these "intelligent" machines have become crucial for improving quality and efficiency. When digital technologies deeply empower the real economy and when "Beijing Manufacturing" integrates closely with "Beijing Services," the resulting new productive forces are of an exponential nature. This integration ensures that Beijing’s manufacturing sector starts from a high point, avoids extensive growth paths, and maintains a balance between economic vitality and sustainable development.
However, while acknowledging impressive achievements, a clear understanding must be maintained. The development of high-end manufacturing is a long-term and complex process, facing multiple challenges such as global technological competition, supply chain security, and critical core technologies. Beijing needs to continue optimizing the business environment, strengthening talent cultivation, and ensuring the stability of the industrial chain. Particularly, there should be broader growth space provided for "specialized, refined, distinctive, and innovative" enterprises while encouraging more "invisible champions" to emerge.
Overall, the economic data for the first three quarters of Beijing, especially the remarkable performance of high-end manufacturing, sends a clear signal to the outside world: new productive forces are accelerating their convergence. This strong vitality injected by high-end manufacturing is not only a key driving force supporting current economic growth but also a strategic cornerstone for leading Beijing toward high-quality development.
