At a September 22 press conference, Li Chao, Deputy Director of the Policy Research Office and spokesperson for China’s National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), said China plans to expand the BeiDou satellite navigation industry to more than RMB 1 trillion (US$140 billion) within five years during the “15th Five-Year Plan” period (2026–2030). The goal is to achieve new breakthroughs in the market-oriented, industrial-scale, and international development of BeiDou applications.
The NDRC plans to advance key technologies, including high-end chips, critical components, and integrated algorithms, while promoting the integration of BeiDou with artificial intelligence, satellite internet, and other technologies. China will also strengthen institutional support by advancing the implementation of the Satellite Navigation Regulations of the People’s Republic of China and improving industry standards, testing, and certification systems.
In 2025, China’s BeiDou industry generated more than RMB 629 billion in total output, with more than 30,000 related enterprises and institutions employing over 2 million people. BeiDou is widely used in transportation, agriculture, maritime fishing, and energy. More than 12 million commercial vehicles are equipped with BeiDou, while more than 3.5 million terminals are used in agriculture and about 70,000 fishing vessels use BeiDou services.
BeiDou positioning services are also integrated into about 1.4 billion smartphones, more than 50 million electric vehicles, 14 million shared bicycles, and 160 million wearable devices in China. BeiDou-related products have been exported to more than 140 countries and regions. China also plans to deepen international cooperation through technology exchanges, talent development, joint demonstrations, and participation in global satellite-navigation governance.
Sources: People’s Daily, September 23, 2026
http://finance.people.com.cn/n1/2026/0922/c1004-40803710.html