China on Wednesday said it will boost support for the application of AI models to foster more breakthroughs in technology.

A government work report delivered by Premier Li Qiang at the National People's Congress opening said the country will pursue integrated advancements in technological and industrial innovation.

“We will establish a mechanism to increase funding for industries of the future and foster industries such as biomanufacturing, quantum technology, embodied AI, and 6G technology."

The report said authorities will unleash the digital economy under its AI Plus initiative, which will work to combine digital technologies with China’s manufacturing and market strengths.

“We will support the extensive application of large-scale AI models and vigorously develop new-generation, intelligent, large-scale AI models”, and development of next-generation intelligent terminals and smart manufacturing terminals.

It was the first time AI models were mentioned in the work report, which comes after the emergence of Chinese AI startup DeepSeek.

"China will strive to create an enabling environment for innovation that encourages exploration and tolerates failure," the report added.

The report also highlighted the development of new quality productive forces, with the aim to foster emerging and future industries, such as quantum technology and the low-altitude economy.

Meanwhile, the report laid out ways the country would deepen multilateral and regional economic cooperation, saying Beijing will continue to expand the nation’s globally-oriented network of free trade areas.

“We will resolutely safeguard the WTO-centred multilateral trading system, broaden converging interests with other countries and promote shared development,” it said. (Additional reporting by Reuters)