China’s Premier Calls on Big Three Telcom Firms to Step Up R&D

Chinese Premier Li Qiang called on the country’s top three telecom companies to step up research and development in the aid of broader innovation and economic growth — underscoring Beijing’s drive for greater self-sufficiency against the backdrop of tensions with the US.

During a tour to units of China Telecom Corp., China China United Network Communications Ltd. and China Mobile Ltd. on Tuesday, Li said rapid development of frontier technologies such as artificial intelligence is profoundly changing the world and competition is intensifying, state media Xinhua News Agency reported. The premier urged the three leading companies to better cultivate “new quality productive forces.”