For example, value-added output of high-tech manufacturing jumped by 13.3 percent in the first six months, outpacing the national average of 5.4 percent, NBS data showed. Also, the output of China"s semiconductor industry rose 23.1 percent year-on-year in the first six months, which translates to an average of more than 1.5 billion chips produced per day.

　　In addition, the output of other smart products such as 5G smartphones, 3D printing equipment and service robots has maintained rapid growth. The daily token processing volume has reached the hundreds of trillions, marking a monumental leap and highlighting the vitality and potential of the digital and intelligent economy.

　　Hu Qimu, a professor at the Maritime Silk Road Institute of Huaqiao University, told the Global Times on Wednesday that "it is important to note that the economic figures show that the upgrading of our industrial structure, breakthroughs in homegrown tech innovation, and the optimization of our foreign trade structure are continuing to take strong effect, and that the medium- to long-term growth drivers are becoming increasingly evident," Hu said.

　　Hu highlighted a number of new growth drivers from strategic emerging industries such as AI and the green sector, as well as strong vitality across the high-end manufacturing sector fueled by robust external demand and expanding trade and economic cooperation with Belt and Road partner countries.

　　Whole-year expectations

　　

　　Observers believed that the solid first-half economic growth has set the tone for the country to achieve the full-year target of 4.5 to 5 percent, and stable growth momentum is expected in the second half of the year.