"In many cases, the biggest hurdle to innovation is not invention in the laboratory, but crossing the 'Darwinian Sea' between the laboratory and the marketplace," Li told the forum, echoing this year's theme.

　　While China's tech advances provide the wellspring for industrial development, its massive application scenarios are able to support the development of new technologies, he said.

　　For instance, the swift growth of China's new energy and intelligent connected vehicle industries has been underpinned by breakthroughs in areas such as new materials, power batteries and communications technologies. "This is what gives Chinese products their competitive edge, not government subsidies as some have speculated," the premier explained.

　　The country's innovation prowess is earned through years of strengthening its own capabilities and relentless hard work, and cultivated via a robust ecosystem, he added.

　　Just ahead of this year's Summer Davos, the WEF announced 16 new additions to its Global Lighthouse Network, which recognizes manufacturers that excel in deploying advanced technologies. Over half of them are located in China, spanning sectors from ship-making to smart logistics.

　　In the outline of its 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030) adopted earlier this year, China has placed emphasis not only on developing frontier technologies but also on creating the industrial ecosystems and application scenarios needed to turn them into tangible output.

　　For Jonas Prising, CEO of workforce solutions company Manpower Group, the tech advancement and innovation environments are equally impressive in China.