On October 18th, "The Third China Steel Pipe Industry Development Conference" was grandly held in Liaocheng, Shandong Province, which is renowned as the "Steel Pipe Capital of China". The event was hosted by Henan Zhonggangwang Technology Group Co., Ltd. Mr. Chen Leiming, Executive President and Secretary-General of CAMT was invited to attend the conference and deliver a speech.

Chen Leiming pointed out that we are currently living in an era characterized by the coexistence of transformation and challenges. The economic development has entered a new phase, shifting from high - speed growth to high - quality development, and is undergoing an extensive and profound systematic transformation in the economic and social realms. At present, as the steel industry enters a period of in - depth adjustment and reconstruction, it is confronted with unprecedented difficulties and challenges. Simultaneously, it is also presented with unparalleled opportunities for transformation. Therefore, we need to approach issues from the following perspectives:

Firstly, accurately perceive changes. We should have a clear understanding of the new circumstances in the industry's development. The focus of the industry's development has comprehensively shifted from the previous "incremental expansion" to "stock optimization".

Secondly, respond to changes in a scientific manner. We must firmly seize the new opportunities in industrial development. Breakthrough in the pursuit of high - end development to enhance the core competitiveness; deeply engage in green development to construct a sustainable future; accelerate the process of intelligent development to fuel efficiency transformations across the entire value chain; and strategically plan for international development to pioneer a diversified market landscape.

Thirdly, actively strive for changes. Let us join hands to write a new chapter for the steel pipe industry. Uphold innovation - driven development and act as pioneers of new - quality productivity. Strengthen the synergy of the industrial chain and serve as co - builders of an integrated ecosystem. Adhere to industry self - regulation and function as guardians of an orderly market. Embrace digital transformation and become forerunners of a smart future.

In the speech, Chen Leiming presented a thematic report entitled "Prospects for the Development Trends of China's Steel and Steel Pipe Industries during the Fifteenth Five-Year Plan ".

He carried out a comprehensive analysis from several perspectives, namely, "The Historical Turning Point Confronting China's Steel Industry", "The Current Situation and Challenges of China's Steel Industry", "The Outlook on New Business Forms and Models of China's Steel Industry during the Fifteenth Five-Year Plan ", and "The Development Trends of China's Steel Pipe Industry during the Fifteenth Five-Year Plan ".

Chen Leiming holds the view that China's steel industry is at a crucial juncture transitioning from "quantitative expansion" to "qualitative enhancement", officially entering a new development phase centered on quality and efficiency.

Its core characteristics can be encapsulated in the following five dimensions:Paradigm shift in development model: From "scale expansion" to "structural optimization"Transition of driving forces: From "factor-driven growth" to "innovation-driven growth"Reorientation of resource-environment relations: From "high energy consumption and high emissions" to "green and low-carbon development"Evolution of industrial form: From "single manufacturing" to "intelligent manufacturing and servitization"Transformation of resource security approach: From "passive dependence" to "proactive control"

Chen Leiming underscores that this profound transformation within China's steel industry is an indispensable journey on its path from being a "major steel - producing nation" to becoming a "premier steel - producing power". It no longer merely entails "steel - making" in a simplistic sense. Instead, it has pivoted towards more precise structures, more cutting - edge technologies, more environmentally - friendly processes, more intelligent models, and more secure supply chains, ultimately leading to a fundamental elevation of the competitiveness and resilience across the entire industry.

When addressing "the current situation and challenges of China's steel industry", Chen Leiming posits that they are primarily manifested in the following aspects:

The supply-demand imbalance: The contradiction between overall quantity and insufficient demand is intricately intertwined.

The structural imbalance: There is a coexistence of a shortage in high - end products and an oversupply of low - end products.

The surge in exports: Opportunities and challenges coexist simultaneously.

Capacity reduction: There is a relatively substantial pressure to phase out backward production capacity.

The issue of green development and costs: There is significant survival pressure under the "dual - carbon" goals.

China's steel industry is currently contending with multiple challenges, such as a decline in total demand, a structural imbalance in products, intensified export risks, difficulties in clearing excess capacity, and high costs associated with green transformation. These challenges are interlinked and complex, suggesting that the journey of transformation and upgrading during the Fifteenth Five-Year Plan will undoubtedly be a formidable and profound systematic endeavor.

Chen Leiming offers insights into the new business forms and models of China's steel industry during the Fifteenth Five-Year Plan. He argues that during this time, with the introduction of a series of policies and measures by the state to encourage and support the transformation and high - quality development of the steel industry, the steel industry, amidst this period of substantial adjustment and restructuring, will face both challenges and opportunities. It will continuously transform, grow, evolve, and upgrade, giving rise to the following ten new business forms or models:

a) Global resource - allocation enterprise clusters

b) Digital supply - chain collaboration platforms

c) Green and low - carbon industrial - chain ecosystems

d. Technology - oriented specialized steel enterprises

e) Steel industry Internet platforms

f). Specialized, refined, in - depth, and high - quality steel processing bases

g) A newly upgraded steel circulation business model

h) A qualitative shift in downstream core demand, with the focus of demand migrating from the construction industry to the manufacturing industry

i) New scenarios for short - process steelmaking and the application of scrap steel

j). AI technology emerging as a new driving force for reshaping the industry ecosystem

He specifically stressed that during the Fifteenth Five-Year Plan, artificial intelligence (AI) technology will be intricately integrated into the core of production and operation within China's steel industry. This integration will drive a profound transformation of the industry from the traditional "experience - driven" paradigm to a new business form that is "data - and intelligence - driven".

During this period, AI will no longer serve as a peripheral element in the steel industry but will instead emerge as the central engine for reshaping the industrial landscape. It will propel the industry's evolution from traditional manufacturing, which heavily relies on experience, to a new modern industrial model characterized by data - driven decision - making, intelligence - led operations, and green and efficient processes. This transformation is not merely about technological advancements and efficiency improvements; rather, it lies at the heart of the industry's efforts to establish new - quality productive forces and attain high - quality development.

Chen Leiming encouraged industry peers to maintain unwavering confidence, remain committed to the core business, and firmly believe in the future. He noted that, driven by the dual forces of reform and transformation, China's steel industry is set to enter a new phase of high - quality development, characterized by high - end sophistication, intelligent operations, and green sustainability.

The steel industry will undergo a fundamental shift from a focus on quantity to a pursuit of quality through the structural adjustment of downstream demand and the widespread adoption of short - process steelmaking. The high - end and green requirements of downstream industries will compel steel enterprises to intensify technological innovation and enhance supply - chain synergy. Moreover, the large - scale development of short - process steelmaking will not only contribute to the achievement of the "dual - carbon" goals but also facilitate the industry's transition from a resource - intensive model to a circular - economy - based one. Ultimately, this will lead to the establishment of a high - level dynamic equilibrium where "demand guides supply, and supply stimulates demand."