On 4 November 2025, the Department of Standards Innovation and Management under the National Standardization Administration of China (SAC) released a press briefing summarizing China’s international standardization achievements during the 14th Five-Year Plan (2020–2025). The data demonstrate China’s expanding influence in global standard-setting, particularly across Africa and Southeast Asia. This article highlights six key outcomes from this period.
- Growing Leadership in International Standards Development
According to data released by the State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR), during the 14th Five-Year period, China led the development of 1,079 international standards and promoted mutual recognition of more than 500 standards with other countries. These figures reflect China’s growing voice and technical leadership in the global standardization system.
- Wide Application of Chinese Standards in Overseas Projects
Chinese standards have been widely applied across international infrastructure and agricultural cooperation projects.
For example, Chinese standards were adopted in eight international railway projects, including the China–Kyrgyzstan–Uzbekistan Railway, the China–Laos Railway, and Indonesia’s Jakarta–Bandung High-Speed Railway (HSR).
The Jakarta–Bandung HSR—Southeast Asia’s first high-speed railway. It is a flagship project aligning China’s Belt and Road Initiative with Indonesia’s “Global Maritime Fulcrum” vision. From rail gauge and tunnel cross-sections to signaling systems and carriage interfaces, the project applies Chinese technical standards with localized optimization.
In Zambia, China supported the establishment of a 66,670-hectare agricultural standardization demonstration zone. Under the China–Zambia Agricultural Standardization Cooperation Program, Zambian farmers increased marigold oil extraction rates by 15% using localized Chinese standards. More than 30 agricultural standards were jointly developed, significantly improving local agricultural productivity.
- Expanding Institutional Presence in International Standardization Bodies
According to Mr. Xiao Han, Director-General of SAC’s Department of International Cooperation, China has substantially increased its institutional footprint in international standardization:
- China newly assumed 26 secretariatsin international standardization bodies in key fields such as high-end equipment and intelligent manufacturing.
- Chinese experts now serve as chairs of 30 more international technical committeesand convenors of 486 more working groups.
- China submitted 880 new international standard proposalsand led the formulation of 532 international standards during the period, covering sectors such as new energy vehicles, new power systems, and aerospace.
- Mutual Recognition Enhancing Trade Efficiency
Through mutual recognition of China’s voluntary national standard GB/T 3287 Malleable Cast Iron Pipe Fittings with 44 Belt and Road countries, exports to these markets have become significantly more efficient.
- Strengthened SMEs’ Participation
In recent years, SAMR has strongly promoted enterprise participation in international standardization, particularly among small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). By improving incentive mechanisms, strengthening institutional support, and enhancing talent cultivation, China aims to ensure that international standardization directly serves high-quality industrial development.
- Leadership in Key Emerging Technology Standards
Standardization has played a crucial role in supporting the internationalization of China’s industries, especially in photovoltaics, new energy vehicles, artificial intelligence, and robotics. China has led several international standards in emerging fields:
(1) Lithium Batteries
China led the development of:
- IEC 62565-5-3:2025 Nanomanufacturing – Product specification – Part 5-3: Nano-enabled energy storage – Blank detail specification: silicon nanosized materials for the negative electrode of lithium-ion batteries.
This is the world’s first international standard for nano-silicon anode materials, establishing a key indicator system and promoting coordinated innovation across the lithium battery industrial chain.
(2) Photovoltaics
China is leading the first international standard in the PV sector focused on carbon footprint accounting:
- IEC 63667-1 Carbon Footprint Product Category Rules for Photovoltaic Products – Part 1: Photovoltaic (PV) Modules.
This standard provides scientific methodologies for lifecycle carbon emissions calculation, supporting the global green transition and renewable energy development.
(3) Artificial Intelligence
China is leading international standardization efforts in brain–computer interface technologies, including terminology standards to unify global technical understanding and data format standards to harmonize applications.
(4) Eldercare Robots
China led the development of the world’s first international standard for eldercare robots, providing benchmark guidance for design, manufacturing, testing, and certification.
China’s International Standardization Strategies
China has strengthened high-level institutional openness and international cooperation across four major dimensions:
- Leveraging Diplomatic and Economic Cooperation Mechanisms
China has established permanent working groups on standards, metrology, certification, and inspection under frameworks such as the China–Russia Prime Ministers’ Regular Meeting Commission and created a special working group on civil aircraft standards under the China–Russia Industrial Cooperation Sub-committee.
- Deepening Cooperation Between National Standardization Agencies
China actively promotes mechanisms such as:
- Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Standardization Cooperation
- BRICS Standards Cooperation Mechanism
It also participates in platforms such as the Northeast Asia Standards Cooperation Forum, Pacific Area Standards Congress (PASC), and APEC Sub-Committee on Standards and Conformance.
- Advancing Cooperation with Belt and Road Countries
China has signed 65 standardization cooperation documents with 48 Belt and Road countries. Among 138 intergovernmental cooperation agreements with these countries, 42 include standardization cooperation—covering diplomacy, science and technology, commerce, and market regulation.
- Supporting Standardization Cooperation Through Free Trade Agreements
Standardization cooperation plays an important role in the China–ASEAN FTA 3.0 negotiations and the upgraded China–Peru FTA, providing strong institutional support for trade facilitation.
Ms. Cao Lili, Director of the Sub-Institute of Standardization Theory and Strategy at the China National Institute of Standardization (CNIS), emphasized that standard internationalization is:
- A core element of institutional opening-up,
- A key bridge connecting domestic and international markets, and
- A strategic tool for China’s participation in global governance and competitiveness enhancement.
She highlighted three important dimensions:
First, aligning domestic standards with international rules helps reduce technical barriers to trade, in line with the WTO principle that standards should not become hidden trade barriers.
Second, internationalized standards deepen integration with partner countries across technology, industry, and markets—supporting value chain development based on mutual recognition and reinforcing China’s “dual circulation” strategy.
Finally, standard internationalization reflects China’s vision of extensive consultation, joint contribution, and shared benefits, contributing to a more open, stable, and prosperous world economy.
Looking ahead to the 15th Five-Year Plan period, Chinese standards are expected to adopt a more open and inclusive approach—learning from global best practices, expanding institutional openness in standardization, accelerating the “soft connectivity” of rules and standards, and promoting mutually beneficial outcomes in international standardization cooperation.
Source: https://www.samr.gov.cn/bzcxs/sjdt/gzdt/art/2025/art_ec15ada47725485f97b14842622d0316.html
