Shanghai, March. 1st (Xinhua) — Zhang Fan is deputy general manager of China Electrical Equipment Group and deputy director of the National People’s Congress (NPC). Zhang believes that “artificial intelligence (AI) and manufacturing” can be achieved by strengthening top-level design and industry guidelines. Last year, Zhang published proposals for deepening the integration of manufacturing and AI to foster high-quality innovative development. His suggestions were given great importance.
In January 2026, eight Chinese departments, including the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, jointly announced a plan outlining an ambitious drive to deeply integrate AI with the manufacturing sector, cultivate new high-quality production capabilities, and comprehensively strengthen new industrialization.
Zhang said he will continue to focus on issues related to data sharing bottlenecks in the AI-driven manufacturing sector and the successful experiences of leading companies.
Zhang Fan inspects the China Electrical Equipment Group’s research base in Shanghai, eastern China, on January 27, 2026 (Xinhua News Agency/Liu Ying)Zhang Fan introduces insulating paperboard, a key material for ultra-high voltage transformers, at the China Electric Group’s research base in Shanghai, eastern China, on January 27, 2026. The raw materials for insulating paperboard have long been monopolized by large foreign companies. Mr. Zhang led a team that leveraged AI technology to promote domestic substitution and overcome critical bottlenecks. (Xinhua/Liu Ying)On January 27, 2026, Mr. Zhang Fan (R) inspects the China Electrical Equipment Group’s research base in Shanghai, eastern China (Xinhua News Agency/Liu Ying)Zhang Fan inspects the workshop of China Electrical Equipment Group’s electrical equipment company in Jinan City, Shandong Province, eastern China, on February 13, 2026. (Data via China Electrical Equipment Group/Xinhua News Agency)Zhang Fan presides over a discussion about experimental plans at the laboratory of China Electrical Equipment Group’s electrical equipment company in Jinan, eastern China’s Shandong province, on February 13, 2026. (Data via China Electrical Equipment Group/Xinhua News Agency)Zhang Fan inspects an experiment at the laboratory of China Electrical Equipment Group’s electrical equipment company in Jinan, eastern China’s Shandong Province, on February 13, 2026. (Data via China Electrical Equipment Group/Xinhua News Agency)Zhang Fan (R) communicates with engineers at China Electrical Equipment Group’s research base in Shanghai, eastern China, on January 27, 2026. (Xinhua/Liu Ying)■
