If China's aim in the past was how to economically catch up with and surpass developed countries, then its current aim should be how to prevent itself from being overtaken.

Is China's manufacturing sector able and determined to pursue further development and prevent itself from being overtaken by its counterparts in the rest of the world? The answer is yes. A series of emerging trends, from intensified efforts to try new business models and open new markets by some domestic manufacturers to the exploration of the "Internet plus" model, show the foresight and adaptability of domestic producers.

In 2014 alone, a total of 53,140 scientific and technological fruits were registered in China and applications were filed for more than 1.3 million patents. Meanwhile, China's R&D input was 2.09 percent of its gross domestic product that year. The proportion was even higher among such manufacturing giants as TCL.

What China now lacks is not excellent and hardworking technicians and scientists, nor entrepreneurs with a strong market vision and the courage to withstand pressure, nor enthusiastic investors and capital. What it lacks is equitable evaluation of its manufacturers and positive incentives.

It is hoped that the 13th Five-Year Plan (2016-20) can give the domestic manufacturing sector a deserved status and the capital market reasonably evaluates enterprises.

The author is a researcher at the Ministry of Commerce's International Trade and Economic Cooperation Institute.

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