In an effort to carry centuries-old craftsmanship into modern production and global markets, China is advancing its first national policy dedicated to historically classic industries, with a two-stage plan stretching to 2030.

The guideline, jointly issued by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and five other departments on Monday, puts measurable ambitions at the front of that drive. By 2028, China aims to foster 50 leading companies each reaching a scale of 10 billion yuan ($1.49 billion), create 100 nationally recognized Chinese consumer brands and build several industry clusters worth 100 billion yuan apiece.

By 2030, the country plans to cultivate a group of world-class enterprises and renowned brands, pushing historically classic industries toward the middle and upper reaches of global value chains, according to the guideline.

The term embraces silk, tea, porcelain, traditional Chinese medicine, brewing, arts and crafts, and the "four treasures of the study" — the brush, ink, paper and inkstone.

Far from being relics behind glass, the sectors already form a formidable economic base. Data from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology showed that the number of major enterprises had reached 25,000, with nearly 3.5 million employees and combined annual revenue of about 8 trillion yuan.

"Historically classic industries are well placed to benefit from China's consumption upgrade, as they satisfy not only material needs but also a growing appetite for emotional connection, cultural enrichment and aesthetic experience," said Xie Yuansheng, vice-minister of industry and information technology, during a news conference on Monday.

Tapping that potential, Xie added, will require coordinated innovation in products, consumption settings and sales channels to help traditional craftsmanship "come alive, capture the public imagination and reach millions of households".

In this regard, the policy treats preservation and industrial renewal as two sides of the same coin, with artificial intelligence expected to help bridge the old and the new. The guideline follows a "data-driven, model-supported and scenario-based" approach: first turning knowledge held in artisans' hands and memories into reusable data; then using large models to decode production techniques; and finally deploying the technology on factory floors.

"By integrating AI into our business, we can create entirely new consumption scenarios and help traditional silk companies like ours connect with a new generation of consumers," said Sun Bin, director of AIGC project development at Hangzhou-based silk products manufacturer Wensli.

Sun added that AI-powered customization can make products such as personalized silk scarves far more interactive, better reaching younger consumers who are looking for individuality, engagement and emotional value in what they buy.

China's traditional industries are also looking beyond the domestic market, where standards are key to moving up the value chain. The country has led the drafting of 163 international standards in fields including silk, tea, porcelain and traditional Chinese medicine, while strengthening international cooperation on standards in the preservation and protection of cultural heritages, said Wei Hong, a senior official with the State Administration for Market Regulation.

The policy package will gain a public showcase in late October, when Hangzhou will host the nation's first historically classic industries expo, which will present the latest results of industrial innovation — a stage where age-old techniques can be seen not as echoes of the past, but as working assets for China's next chapter of growth, the organizers said.

lijiaying@chinadaily.com.cn