China's manufacturing industry, after the reform and opening up twenty years ago, has been developing rapidly with increased product catalogues and improved producing technology. "Made in China" has grabbed a rather advantageous position in international division of labor and the nation is transforming from a processing and assembling base of transnational corporations to a center of production.

Besides, China's manufacturing industry has become quite competitive in many trades, currently with the added value of equipment manufacturing taking the world fourth place, next only to the US, Japan and Germany.

Manufacturing industry refers to the 29 trades except for excavation and public (electricity, gas and water) which process and reprocess raw materials (excavation and agricultural products) and assemble parts.

From 1980 to 1998, China saw a yearly average of GDP growth at 9.94 percent, while that for the manufacturing industry registered at 12.65 percent for the same period. The total output of the industry had reached 3500 billion yuan by 2000 with its added value in GDP's proportion remained around 40 percent for many years. Half of China's national revenue came from the industry as it brought jobs to half of employed population in cities and half extra rural labors. Since the 1990s, industry products have taken over 80 percent in exportation and earned about 75 percent foreign exchange income for the nation.

Rising of the manufacturing industry was marked by "world first" output of over hundred types of important products such as iron and steel, cement and digital program control exchanges. In 1990, China's steel output only stood at 66 million tons, but which surpassed 150 million by 2001. Traditional products as color TV, washing machine, textile and containers all have become competitive and number of light industry products had developed from several thousand kinds to over 300,000 during the 9th Five-year Plan period (1996-2000).

Expanded quantity brings changes in quality. "Made in China" has developed from simple to hi-tech and sophisticated products. Twenty years ago almost all digital machine tools were imports from abroad but now China boasts 1300 types of its own make. The 30 MW generator and 60 MW sub-critical pressure generator, all designed and produced on our own, have been at world advanced level.

"Made in China" is now enriching itself in the country's opening up. Nearly 400 of world top 500 strong have invested over 2000 projects in China and world chief producers of telecommunication equipment, chemistry, automobile and machinery have all extended their production network to China. "Made in China" will enjoy a more and more important position in the world.

(People's Daily October 18, 2002)