China's Low-Altitude Economy Emerges as Driver for Innovation and Economic Growth

An industry expert has highlighted the transformative impact of China's emerging "low-altitude economy," which is becoming an essential part of what's termed the nation's new quality productive forces. According to Yang Yi, an expert in aviation photoelectric technology and member of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, this sector has significant prospects for revolutionizing transportation, logistics, and public services while fostering innovation-based economic expansion.

Yang Yi noted that the importance of the low-altitude economy has gained official recognition, having been included in China's government work reports consistently over the past two years. He believes that the sector currently stands on the threshold of a "golden era," positioned to generate novel consumption patterns and significantly upgrade the quality of public services in multiple fields, including urban air mobility, logistics, emergency responses, and rural revitalization.

Illustrating the practical benefits of China's low-altitude economy, Yang described recent successful use cases like the AS700 manned airship, which effectively connected cultural heritage festivities with rural development programs during the Spring Festival celebrations in Guizhou Province. Additionally, in earthquake relief operations in Dingri county located in Xizang autonomous region, advanced Wing Loong emergency-rescue drones proved their value by quickly identifying impacted areas despite challenging plateau conditions.

Despite the clear benefits and successful pilot initiatives, Yang stressed the need for coordinated policy frameworks aimed at enhancing airspace management and establishing strict safety guidelines. These measures will be vital for driving continuous technological progress, further stoking demand, and sustaining the growth momentum in this innovative sector.

In recognition of this potential, the Aviation Industry Corporation of China has launched a collaborative initiative by establishing a low-altitude economy innovation consortium. Partnering with seven state-owned enterprises, this consortium seeks to cultivate a robust industrial chain covering R&D activities, production, and practical application scenarios.

Yang Yi emphasized that further investment and attention to this sector has the potential not only to boost domestic economic growth and foster new consumer demands but also to firmly position China at the forefront of the global shift towards next-generation aviation technologies.