Artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, and innovative drugs are emerging as new drivers of China's foreign trade, with Jinan, capital of Shandong province, stepping up efforts to develop these industries.

The three sectors, dubbed the new "new trio", are experiencing rapid growth globally. In the first half of 2026, China's open-source AI models surpassed 10 billion cumulative downloads worldwide, while the country's humanoid robots accounted for more than half of global production. Overseas technology licensing deals for innovative drugs topped $100 billion.

Jinan has made AI one of its 13 key industry value chains, fostering more than 560 related companies, with core industry currently valued at over 64 billion yuan ($9.52 billion). As of May, 117 large AI models had been registered in the city, supporting applications in manufacturing, government services, education, and tourism.

Jinan is also building a robotics industry spanning core components, robot manufacturing, and system integration. The city is now home to 147 robotics companies, with its core industry accounting for nearly half of Shandong's total.

"Xingzhe Taishan", developed by Yobotics in Jinan, won the 100-meter exhibition race at the 2025 World Humanoid Robot Games, while Halu Robot's "Xiaolu No 1" became China's first bionic quadruped robot to receive Class IIC explosion-proof certification.

Jinan's pharmaceutical industry is also moving from research to commercialization. During the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021–25), five Class 1 innovative drugs developed in the city were approved for the market, while 55 others entered clinical trials. In the first half of 2026, pharmaceutical exports reached 2.46 billion yuan, up 11 percent year-on-year.

Jinan-based Qilu Pharmaceutical Group is developing more than 120 innovative drugs and applying AI to drug discovery, including target screening and molecular design.

Jinan is rapidly building up its AI, robotics, and innovative drug industries. [Photo/Jinan Daily]