Factories going green, efficient

Worldwide, countries have been actively investing in renewable energy and new materials, such as shale gas exploration in the US, which has turned the country from an oil importer into an exporter.

But Su said the development of high-end manufacturing in China couldn't be carried out overnight and the country should focus on basic industrial research to improve its competence in material, core components and technologies.

"For example, aircraft engines couldn't be developed without years of research and experiments."

Su also said China would make efforts to widen its technology achievements in high-end manufacturing and encourage big corporations to go overseas for a bigger presence in the global value chain.

"China is in transition from a 'manufacturing factory' to a 'manufacturing force' by focusing on making valuable products instead of low-priced, mass-produced goods," said Marc Wucherer, president of Siemens China Industry Sector.

With regard to improving resource efficiency, Wucherer said that manufacturing enterprises should consider it at the equipment level first, such as energy-saving for high-efficiency motors and frequency converters.

"Enterprises should think longer-term, focusing on resource efficiency improvements for the entire industrial chain, from product design, production planning, production engineering and production to services," he said.

Siemens has brought to the Shanghai fair a solution integrating current technologies and innovations based on its "digital enterprise platform", where all processes in product development and manufacturing have been optimized in a virtual environment prior to production. Therefore time, labor, equipment and raw materials used will be significantly reduced.

Ulrich Spiesshofer, ABB's new chief executive officer, strongly advocates smart technology for intelligent upgrading for China's next level of urbanization and industrialization.

"Smart technologies are the best way to realize intelligent upgrading to the next-level intelligent infrastructure and industry, supporting China to maintain its competitiveness," said Spiesshofer.

As the "world's factory", China has gone through the initial stage of industrialization and faced the challenges of globalization, urbanization, environmental issues, a rising standard of living among the Chinese and new industrial development.