From Two Sessions Hot Topics to Shenzhen Market Practice: "National Treasures" Build Strong Fundamentals for Chinese Assets

Ask AI · How has China’s Hualong One become a global leader in nuclear power technology?

Yang Ping, Reporter for 21st Century Business Herald

This year, during the National Two Sessions, the concepts of “new quality productivity” and “high-level technological independence and self-reliance” once again became the driving forces shaping China’s modernization blueprint. At critical points in the global industrial chain, a number of leading companies listed on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange are transforming the spirit of the Two Sessions into concrete practices.

2026 marks the beginning of the “14th Five-Year Plan.” The government work report ranks “accelerating high-level technological independence and self-reliance” as the third of the top ten tasks for this year, explicitly emphasizing the importance of seizing the opportunities presented by a new round of technological revolution and industrial transformation to comprehensively enhance independent innovation capabilities and provide technological support for high-quality development.

So, from which aspects should we accelerate high-level technological independence and self-reliance?

Three companies have made technological innovation their core development strategy, focusing on tackling key core technologies, achieving a series of major breakthroughs in their respective fields, and setting examples for “accelerating high-level technological independence and self-reliance.”

A relevant person from China General Nuclear Power Corporation (CGN) stated that the company adheres to the path of “introduction, digestion, absorption, and innovation,” continuously deepening its work in nuclear power technology.

Currently, China’s independently developed third-generation nuclear power technology “Hualong One,” which has been successfully researched and developed over many years with independent intellectual property rights, has become a “national brand” alongside high-speed rail. This technology meets the world’s highest safety standards, successfully passing the UK Generic Design Assessment (GDA) and European Utility Requirements (EUR) certification. It is the most widely used nuclear power technology in operation and under construction worldwide.

As of the end of 2025, 18 units under management are “Hualong One” units, with mass construction steadily progressing. The Fangchenggang 3/4 units, part of the 2025 demonstration project, have been fully put into operation. Currently, Huizhou Unit 1 and Cangnan Unit 1 have completed their first grid connection and are undergoing other debugging work.

In 2025, CGN also achieved a series of breakthroughs in smart nuclear power technology products, repair technologies, and more.

“The company’s independently developed ‘Smart Nuclear Power’ industrial control system, as China’s first nuclear power industrial control system, integrates advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence and big data to realize intelligent control and monitoring of units, pioneering a ‘precision operation and maintenance’ model, effectively reducing operation and maintenance costs. Additionally, the company’s nuclear power pipeline welding repair technology won the China Patent Gold Award, breaking foreign technological monopoly and significantly lowering maintenance costs. The company is also actively布局第四代核电技术和小型压水堆技术，持续跟踪国内外先进技术动态，保持行业竞争力,” said a relevant person from CGN.

In the land of abundance, AVIC Chengfei Aviation has also deepened its technological innovation system reform through the “Hundred Regiments Battle” mechanism and “angel investor” model, activating innovation genes.

According to a person in charge of AVIC Chengfei, the company showed strong momentum in scientific research and technological breakthroughs in 2025, including: first, the advanced intelligent manufacturing plant was selected as a national leading intelligent factory, achieving flexible and agile production; second, the independently developed “Chengfei Yizhi” AI platform was further applied in R&D, production, and quality management; third, the jointly developed hydrogen energy drone achieved a breakthrough in 30-hour endurance flight, with flight endurance reaching an internationally leading level.

Currently, the company has established 4 national-level, 11 provincial and ministerial, and 6 enterprise-level technological innovation platforms and academician (expert) innovation workstations. Since the 14th Five-Year Plan, it has continuously increased R&D investment, promoted independent breakthroughs in key core technologies, and its main products have been fully localized.

It is understood that AVIC Chengfei also undertakes several national major science and technology projects and key R&D plans in aerospace manufacturing equipment and processes, forming a high-value patent portfolio with independent intellectual property rights. The company actively布局战略性新兴产业和未来产业，为未来发展蓄势蓄能。

China International Marine Containers (CIMC) has over 40 years of experience in high-end equipment manufacturing, forming several core technological capabilities, including steel structure design and manufacturing for mechanical equipment, temperature and pressure control technology for cryogenic and high-pressure vessels, and core capabilities in deep-sea equipment.

According to CIMC’s 2025 first “Science and Technology Innovation White Paper,” in high-end sectors, the company delivered the world’s largest and latest generation offshore wind installation vessel, built the world’s first safety-compliant automobile transport ship, setting a safety benchmark for international new energy vehicle maritime transport.

In digital intelligence, the company delivered the world’s first intelligent unmanned aircraft system to Lanzhou Airport, enhancing China’s airport intelligence level. CIMC Huanke and Xin Hui CIMC were included in the national 5G factory list, demonstrating strong manufacturing capabilities.

In green technology, the company pioneered modular wind turbine nacelles, breaking through core key technologies and leading industry transformation. Its first domestic methanol project has been fully operational, providing a practical deep decarbonization solution for global shipping.

Additionally, a CIMC relevant leader highlighted significant achievements in high-end manufacturing, including the independently designed and built ultra-deepwater drilling platform “Blue Whale 1/2,” setting global records for water depth and drilling depth; overcoming the “crown jewel” FPSO/FLNG products in the offshore industry with EPC capabilities, breaking the long-term monopoly of international giants; and constructing the large integrated deep-sea wind turbine installation vessel “Boqiang 3060,” which set national records in water depth and deck load capacity.

As of June 2025, CIMC has won 2 National Science and Technology Progress Awards, 52 provincial and ministerial science and technology awards, maintained 6,331 valid patents, received 21 China Patent Awards, and owns over 30 industry-leading star products, 9 national manufacturing champions, and 17 “Little Giant” enterprises recognized at the national level.

A strong innovation system is a key guarantee for technological breakthroughs.

It is understood that these three companies support their technological innovation through building comprehensive R&D platforms, optimizing research mechanisms, and cultivating professional talent teams, ensuring continuous innovation vitality.

China General Nuclear Power has established a complete R&D system, including one National Engineering Technology Research Center, one National Key Laboratory, and five national energy R&D platforms, along with multiple industry-leading large laboratories supporting fuel assembly development and nuclear equipment R&D.

The company also leverages the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area to establish a southern R&D hub, with four major R&D bases in Shenzhen, Yangjiang, Zhongshan, and Huizhou, accelerating key technology research and成果转化。

AVIC Chengfei has built a multi-level technological innovation platform system, coordinating national, provincial, and enterprise platforms to integrate innovation resources and improve R&D efficiency.

It is reported that AVIC Chengfei, as the main leader, co-created the National High-end Aerospace Equipment Technology Innovation Center, gathering resources from Tsinghua University, Sichuan University, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, and large state-owned enterprises, focusing on key core technologies such as stealth technology for high-end aerospace equipment, extreme performance manufacturing, and intelligent testing, producing a series of high-level landmark technological achievements.

CIMC has established a four-tier R&D organization covering the group, business sectors, sub-sectors, and enterprise collaboration, forming an “integrated planning, distributed R&D, distributed manufacturing” open innovation system, with a unique “small team, large platform” research mechanism.

The company boasts extensive technological innovation resources, including 3 national-level enterprise technology centers/sub-centers/industrial design centers, 2 national R&D centers/national engineering laboratories, 5 CNAS national laboratories, 6 postdoctoral research stations, 8 national intellectual property demonstration enterprises, 2 national IP advantage enterprises, over 60 high-tech enterprises, and more than 60 provincial and ministerial enterprise technology centers/research institutes.

As leaders in their respective fields, these three companies rely on deep industry experience and advanced technological advantages to secure a solid market position, achieve steady performance growth, and lay a strong foundation for technological innovation.

China General Nuclear Power holds a core position in nuclear power. By the end of 2025, the company manages 28 operational nuclear units and 20 under construction (including 4 entrusted to management by the controlling shareholder), with installed capacities of 31,796 MW and 24,222 MW, accounting for 44.46% of the total installed capacity of all operational and under-construction nuclear units nationwide.

A relevant person from CGN stated that the company’s production, operation, and engineering performance are stable, with continuous improvement in profitability. The company also adheres to a long-term stable dividend policy, with the 2021-2025 dividend plan being honored for four consecutive years and continuing to uphold its commitments.

The subsidiary Chengfei, a major base for China’s aircraft manufacturing and export, and an important manufacturer of civil aircraft components, has been producing aircraft such as J-5, J-7, JF-17, J-9, J-10, and J-20, as well as various unmanned aircraft and large aircraft nose sections since its founding in 1958. It has established a complete nose design and R&D system and specialized manufacturing advantages in major aircraft components, with integrated “production, reserve, repair” capabilities.

“Aiming at the deep accumulation and technological leadership in high-end aerospace equipment, the company has become a key advantageous enterprise at the national and provincial levels. Its products not only meet domestic defense and aviation transportation needs but also demonstrate strong competitiveness in international markets,” said a CGN representative.

CIMC also dominates in global logistics and energy equipment sectors, with many products ranking first worldwide. According to reports and rankings from the International Container Industry Association and Drewry, the company’s standard dry cargo containers, refrigerated containers, and special containers continue to lead globally. In 2024, CIMC’s container production remained the world’s largest; CIMC Vehicles ranked first among global semi-trailer manufacturers; CIMC Tenda is a major supplier of airport boarding bridges worldwide. The company is also one of China’s leading marine engineering equipment enterprises.

“The company’s operations span nearly 20 countries and regions, with over 30 overseas entities and more than 4,800 overseas employees. It maintains a balanced revenue ratio of 50% domestic and 50% abroad, and through its global layout and strong leadership, it continues to expand business scale and profitability,” said a CIMC executive.

Industry experts believe that in today’s complex geopolitical landscape and rising asset-hedging demands, these three Shenzhen-listed companies’ values go beyond mere performance growth. They represent the security and scarcity of China’s core assets.