China

Intelligence for Better Decision Making

Surge in Chinese AI Industry Driven by Government Action and Market Demand

Jan. 8, 2026 | Technology & Innovation

China is accelerating its artificial intelligence industry through a series of strategic measures at both national and local levels.

**Beijing’s municipal government released on January 6, 2026 an action plan to grow the city’s core AI industry to over 1 trillion yuan (about $142.5 billion) within two years.**
The plan sets out nine initiatives that emphasize technological innovation, joint research projects, expanded data access and broader applications of AI across multiple sectors. It includes talent attraction schemes, mobilization of long-term capital and support for open-source AI ecosystems.

**The plan sets specific targets such as developing a domestically produced AI computing cluster with capacity exceeding 100,000 chips, listing more than 10 AI-related companies on public markets and cultivating over 20 AI unicorns.**
Building on China’s 14th Five-Year Plan (2021–2025), which positioned the country as a global AI leader with more than 5,300 AI enterprises (roughly 15 percent of the worldwide total), Beijing aims to accelerate its transformation into a world-class innovation hub.

**Beyond Beijing, local governments have launched “Artificial Intelligence+” campaigns to integrate AI into forestry management, public safety, agriculture, healthcare, environmental remediation, manufacturing, cultural heritage promotion, dispute arbitration and rural revitalization.**
In Hunan Province, officials use carbon credits to fund forest firefighting road upgrades; Shanghai deploys “Mo Xiaosu” service robots; Henan’s grain producers benefit from smart farming data systems; Yunyang County operates a unified village clinic management system; Shanghai’s Jiading District runs highly automated robot production facilities; and Anhui’s Fuyang advances so-called “black technology” innovations.

**Zhuhai in Guangdong Province established China’s first local government bureau exclusively for AI development at the end of 2025, following Haizhu District in Guangzhou—the first district-level AI bureau—and Wenzhou in Zhejiang, where the bureau integrates AI and data management.**
These specialized bureaus coordinate critical resources—energy, computing power, data, policy support and talent—to address challenges such as high energy consumption and data center quota restrictions. They implement industrial policies and allocate resources to enable breakthroughs in core AI technologies, while regulatory oversight and cross-industry application promotion remain with other agencies.

**As of early 2026, Zhuhai has achieved an intelligent computing power scale of 2,100 petaflops and launched China’s first brain-like computing power open platform, hosting 50 large language model developers.**
In Guangzhou’s Haizhu District, more than 7,000 AI companies operate alongside 32 large language model projects, backed by a planned annual allocation of 310 million yuan to nurture AI unicorns.

**At the CES trade show in Las Vegas on January 6, 2026, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang reported “very high” customer demand in China for the company’s H200 AI chips.**
The US government has agreed to approve exports of these chips under a licensing process and a 25 percent sales fee to the US government, as announced by President Trump. Huang projected that the Chinese market opportunity could reach $50 billion annually—an estimate not yet reflected in Nvidia’s forecasts—and said final regulatory clarity would emerge as purchase orders arrive. These potential sales could add to Nvidia’s projected $500 billion in revenue over the next two years.

Harbin Showcases Global Innovations and Partnerships at Ice and Snow Expo and Mayors Dialogue

Jan. 8, 2026 | Technology & Innovation

Harbin’s recent Ice and Snow Expo and Global Mayors Dialogue united international participants to showcase cutting-edge cold-region technologies and craft policies for developing winter economies.

**Harbin hosted the inaugural International Ice and Snow Expo across 20,000 square meters, featuring a central exhibition area flanked by six themed zones on sports, culture, equipment manufacturing, tourism, green technology and international cooperation.**
The event brought together diplomats, city representatives, business leaders and experts from more than 20 countries to mark the 20th anniversary of the Harbin–Rovaniemi sister-city partnership and advance collaborative efforts in cold-region infrastructure and technology.

**Major industry players took the stage.**
Zhejiang Geely Holding Group introduced methanol-hydrogen vehicles engineered for extreme cold, while Harbin Engineering University unveiled unmanned aerial vehicles and vessels designed for polar operations, complete with specialized fuel systems. Exhibitors showcased industrial-grade snow-removal robots, snowmobiles, carbon-fiber skis and integrated technology platforms that promote green development. The expo also launched eight new institutions dedicated to ice and snow research, education, industry-education collaboration and international academic exchange, strengthening the sector’s innovation and talent pipeline.

**In 2024 Harbin’s ice and snow economy generated more than 160 billion yuan (about 22.8 billion US dollars), roughly one-sixth of China’s national total.**
Across the country, the sector now includes over 14,000 tourism-related enterprises. Analysts expect the national ice and snow economy to grow from just over one trillion yuan in 2025 to 1.2 trillion yuan by 2027 and 1.5 trillion yuan by 2030, fueled by China’s dual carbon goals, rising consumer demand and expanding international markets.

**Concurrently, the Global Mayors Dialogue convened on January 6, 2026, at Harbin Ice-Snow World under the oversight of the State Council Information Office and the Heilongjiang and Harbin municipal governments.**
Mayors and senior city officials from Canada, Finland, Germany, Greece, the Republic of Korea, Thailand, Turkiye and China participated. The opening ceremony featured cultural performances, interactive ice sculpture trimming sessions and visits to local ice and snow attractions, fostering exchanges on policy experiences and urban strategies for developing ice and snow economies in cold-region cities around the world.

Monitored Intelligence for China - Jan. 9, 2026

News
Media
324

Government
Releases
9

City/State
Releases
20

Embassy
Releases
0

Foreign
Service
Advisories
0

Academic/
Think
Tank
8

Podcasts
0

Videos
0

Social
Media
0

Business
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0

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一次性信用修复政策落地多位借款人逾期记录“清零”

One-Time Credit Repair Policy Implemented, Multiple Borrowers' Overdue Records Cleared

China Daily | Local Language | News | Jan. 9, 2026 | UndeterminedFinancial System Problems

The People’s Bank of China issued a notice on December 22, 2025, implementing a one-time credit repair policy aimed at clearing certain overdue records from individual credit reports. This policy applies to overdue transactions single amounts not exceeding RMB 10,000 that occurred between January 1, 2020, and December 31, 2025. If individuals fully repay these overdue debts by March 31, 2026, the financial credit information basic database will not display these overdue records, effectively removing them from personal credit reports.

The policy is automatic and free of charge, requiring no application or third-party involvement. Financial institutions have reported a noticeable increase in customer inquiries since its implementation. Borrowers across various provinces have shared experiences online confirming successful removal of overdue records shortly after repayment, enhancing opportunities like new credit card approvals. Adjustments in credit reports include changing the repayment status from overdue to normal and reducing overdue amounts to zero for qualifying cases.

Banks have introduced tools to facilitate customers’ credit report inquiries, such as the Agricultural Bank of China's mobile app function allowing users to check and receive their credit details via email. Industry experts caution against fraudulent schemes from intermediaries falsely claiming they can erase overdue records for a fee, warning such practices risk financial loss and data breaches. The policy’s conditions are strictly defined to apply only to overdue loans recorded in the official PBOC credit system within the set amount and time frame and contingent on full debt repayment by the deadline.

一次性信用修复政策落地，你的信用报告更新了吗？

Has Your Credit Report Been Updated Following the Implementation of the One-Time Credit Repair Policy?

Xinhua | Local Language | News | Jan. 9, 2026 | UndeterminedFinancial System Problems

The one-time credit repair policy issued by the People’s Bank of China took effect on January 1, 2026. Under this policy, overdue credit information meeting certain criteria will no longer appear on personal credit reports. Specifically, overdue amounts must be under 10,000 yuan, originate between January 1, 2020, and December 31, 2025, and the debt must be fully repaid by March 31, 2026. Once debts are repaid, overdue records will be removed from credit reports by the end of the following month.

Many individuals who settled overdue loans within the specified time frame have already seen their credit reports updated, improving their chances of obtaining loans. However, some borrowers have not yet seen changes due to unmet conditions. The policy allows a three-month grace period until the end of March 2026 for individuals to repay overdue debts to benefit from the credit repair.

Banks and financial institutions such as ICBC and China Construction Bank have enhanced their credit reporting and inquiry systems to support customers in checking their updated credit status promptly. The People’s Bank of China has also established a verification mechanism to address public inquiries or disputes related to the policy within 30 days.

Experts warn against falling for unscrupulous intermediaries offering high-interest loans or debt restructuring schemes. Instead, borrowers facing difficulties are encouraged to proactively communicate with lenders to arrange repayment solutions and improve their credit standing. The policy is automatically implemented within the credit reporting system, requiring no action or application from individuals.

China reviews Meta's purchase of AI startup Manus, FT reports

CNBC | English | News | Jan. 9, 2026 | Regulation

Chinese officials are reviewing Meta's $2 billion acquisition of the AI startup Manus for potential technology control violations. The review focuses on whether the relocation of Manus' staff and technology to Singapore and the subsequent sale to Meta require an export license under Chinese law.

The assessment by China's commerce ministry is at a preliminary stage and may not result in a formal investigation. However, the requirement for an export license could provide Beijing with leverage to influence or potentially block the transaction.

Meta completed the acquisition of Manus last month. Manus, a Singapore-based firm valued between $2 billion and $3 billion, gained attention earlier this year for releasing what it claimed to be the world's first general AI agent, which autonomously makes decisions and executes tasks with less prompting than AI chatbots like ChatGPT and DeepSeek.

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