The overall scale and comprehensive strength of China’s industry has been further enhanced during the past years and China resides in the world’s top spot as the largest manufacturer and major network power, China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) said on Feb 17.

Miao Wei, minister of MIIT, made the statements as he introduced the current situation of China’s industries including communication industry, and hailed the achievements the country made in these areas at a press conference held by the State Council Information Office in Beijing.

The domestic and international economic situation has been complicated and grim in the past four years. Through two years of effort, China has made big strides toward being a manufacturing power, and promoted in-depth integration of informatization and industrialization. The industrial and communications sectors are running smoothly and structural adjustment is continuously optimized, noted Miao.

Of more than 500 kinds of industrial products, the output of 220 of them ranks the first in the world; a total of 56 manufacturing enterprises were enlisted as the world’s top 500 enterprises in 2015; four internet enterprises entered the top 10 global internet companies in regards to market value; and China has built the world’s largest 4G network, with the number of 4G users rising from 457 million to 731 million, Miao pointed out.

The country is also researching and testing 5G technology with a goal to commercialize it by 2020. The research and development work has entered the second phase, and China will strengthen international cooperation in the process, added Zhang Feng, spokesperson and chief engineer of MIIT.

“Compared with 4G, 5G is much faster and more reliable and can be used to support virtual reality technology, ultra-high definition video transmission, autopilot and smart manufacturing,” Zhang said.

China’s innovation ability has also been significantly enhanced. A series of Shenzhou spacecrafts have been launched successfully; a deep-sea manned submersible Jiaolong has been developed; and world’s biggest shiplift at the massive Three Gorges Dam was unveiled.

Miao also praised China’s progress in the integration of manufacturing and internet as well as the continuous optimization of industrial structure.