'Made in China 2025' has been a partial success

China has made strides in high-tech exports but still relies on foreign inputs for critical sectors

Shamik Dhar

March 30, 2025 05:05 JST

Employees work on the electric vehicle production line at the Zeekr factory in Cixi, Zhejiang province, China,.on March 19, 2025. © Reuters

Shamik Dhar is special adviser at Fathom Consulting. He was formerly global chief economist at BNY Mellon Asset Management, and chief economist at the U.K. Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

In May 2015, Chinese President Xi Jinping unveiled the "Made in China 2025" (MIC25) strategic economic plan, aiming to transform China from the world's low-cost factory into a leader in emerging technologies. The geopolitical ambition was clear: to rival the U.S. and dominate several high-tech industries. Initially, during U.S. President Barack Obama's "Pivot to Asia," there were hopes for U.S.-China cooperation. Today, that optimism has vanished.