China's New New Three: AI, Robots, Drugs Export Capabilities, Not Just Products
AM730 · 1 SOURCESabout 2 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
China's technology sector is transforming from exporting physical products to selling comprehensive capabilities in AI, robotics, and innovative pharmaceuticals. The New New Three Treasures represent a leap beyond the earlier Old Three of clothing, furniture, and appliances into selling solutions, algorithms, and R&D collaboration. The trend signals China's evolving role from manufacturing hub to global innovation partner.
Key Points
- The Old Three exported cost-competitive manufactured goods, while the New Three sold supply chains and complete solutions; the New New Three now export capabilities
- Chinese open-source AI large models have surpassed 10 billion cumulative global downloads, with Taichu Yuanqi building AI computing centers in the Middle East using liquid cooling technology
- In H1 2026, China exported 6.29 billion RMB in industrial robots to 141 countries and regions, while surgical robot exports surged 3.3 times year-on-year
- China's innovative drug licensing deals reached approximately 110 billion USD in H1 2026, representing 80% of 2025's full-year total; Chinese firms occupy 8 of the top 10 global pharma deals
- CSPC Pharmaceutical Group's innovative long-acting peptide drug, still in clinical preparation, was licensed to AstraZeneca for development, production, and commercialization outside China
- iFlytek collaborated with Serbian teams to integrate the local language into translation devices and AI systems, while high-altitude cleaning robots replaced spiderman cleaners in Australia
Why It Matters
The shift from exporting products to exporting capabilities marks a fundamental change in how Chinese companies compete globally, moving beyond price and manufacturing scale to offer integrated technological solutions, ongoing support, and collaborative development that create deeper, more sustainable international partnerships .
The shift from exporting products to exporting capabilities marks a fundamental change in how Chinese companies compete globally, moving beyond price and manufacturing scale to offer integrated technological solutions, ongoing support, and collaborative development that create deeper, more sustainable international partnerships .