Robotic arms carry out packaging operation at the Global Intelligent Manufacturing Industrial Park of Yili Modern Intelligent Health Valley in Tumd Left Banner in Hohhot, north China"s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, April 17, 2025. (Photo: Xinhua)

　　Earlier in December, the world"s leading electric vehicle battery maker Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. (CATL) said it is nearing completion on what could be one of Europe"s largest electric vehicle battery factories, a fresh example of advanced Chinese manufacturing gaining international recognition.

　　Over the years, China"s manufacturing sector has steadily upgraded and integrated itself into international industrial networks. With a growing focus on high-tech and clean-energy production, it now provides robust manufacturing capabilities and supports more resilient supply chains, creating opportunities for global partnerships in emerging industries.

　　WHY MADE IN CHINA?

　　As of 2024, China"s manufacturing sector has been the world"s largest for 15 consecutive years, growing steadily at home while continuing to attract foreign investment.

　　In the first 11 months of 2025, China attracted 693.18 billion yuan (about 98.25 billion U.S. dollars) in actual foreign direct investment, with manufacturing alone receiving 171.72 billion yuan (around 24.4 billion dollars), roughly one-quarter of the total.

　　But why China? How has its manufacturing sector grown from a modest industrial base into a vast, interconnected system deeply embedded in global production networks within decades?