China has emerged as the world’s largest consumer and producer for industrial robots and equipment. In fact, the country recorded US$6.6 billion sales of industrial robotics in 2022, most of which were produced domestically, far more than the second largest country Germany which registered US$2 billion sales during the same year. Propelled by its changing demographics and its evolution from low-cost manufacturing to high-value added processes, China will continue to drive the development of a homegrown robotics sector and pursue manufacturing upgrade, as underscored by China’s 14th Five Year Plan which explicitly laid out the national strategic goal of building a modern high tech society. Sector leaders would be natural beneficiaries of support measures for this broad policy. In this article we discuss more about how along with development of a highly integrated ecosystem of high tech processes and smart manufacturing systems, China is also integrating new materials, new energy, smart grids and energy saving systems, etc. to its technology-enabled ecosystem that sits well with China’s 2060 net zero targets, and its national strategic goal towards a modern, high tech society.

China markets witnessed strong rally since Oct 2022 trough upon China reopening and covid policy pivot, and we start to see investor flows rotating from offshore to A-shares which are expected to outperform with a longer run for rally. Where are we in China’s reopening trajectory? Who are the policy supported sector leaders well placed to outperform? These are the common questions frequently asked by our clients. In this article, we discuss the 10 most frequently asked questions that came up in our recent conversations with investors and allocators, and share more color about pockets of opportunities as China reopening evolves into the second act for economic growth recovery.