China's drive to be a world leader in technology could accelerate as its economy slows - CNBC

The headquarters of the Central Chinese Television (CCTV).

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China's ambition to become the world leader in technology — whether it's 5G, blockchain or artificial intelligence — could be more urgent now that its economy is slowing and it's embroiled in a protracted tariff war with the U.S.

Trade tensions between U.S. and China have prompted experts to speak of "decoupling" between the countries, referring to an increased disconnect between the world's two largest economies.

The "Chinese drive towards self-sufficiency" has accelerated over the past year as a result of the "decoupling," said Ben Harburg, managing partner of Beijing-based venture capital firm MSA Capital, at CNBC's East Tech West conference in the Nansha district of Guangzhou in China.

The theme was prevalent throughout the conference as experts discussed China's support for blockchain, financial technology and 5G. Other tech ambitions include Beijing's stated goal of becoming the world leader in artificial intelligence by 2030, as well as its drive toward launching its own virtual currency.

5G

The technology rivalry between the U.S. and China has centered around the development of next generation mobile services 5G, with Chinese tech giant Huawei in particular focus.

Huawei, a key developer of super-fast 5G technology, was blacklisted by the U.S. government in May. Washington has cited security concerns over Huawei's equipment, alleging that they could provide a backdoor for the Chinese government to spy on the United States. The Chinese tech giant has consistently denied those claims.

Huawei unveiled a new 5G processor for its mobile devices in September, highlighting the company's ambitions to take control of its supply chain amid political pressure from the U.S.

"Our products are able to be shipped without the reliance on the U.S. components and chips," Huawei's Chairman Liang Hua told CNBC's Geoff Cutmore at the conference.

Huawei Chairman Liang Hua at CNBC's East Tech West conference in Guangzhou, China.

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Blockchain

Blockchain, a technology that underpins cryptocurrency Bitcoin, is now being used by various industries from finance to food.

"Blockchain has the potential to fundamentally change the way businesses conduct business," said Lucy Gazmararian, senior manager at PwC Hong Kong. "So, a number of areas of financial services are really able to improve significantly because of blockchain infrastructure."

China recently threw its weight behind blockchain. President Xi Jinping reportedly urged China to "seize the opportunity" offered by blockchain, and called on the country to advance development in the field.

Picture of the Chinese yuan.

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Edith Yeung, a partner at blockchain-focused venture capital fund Proof of Capital, said the Chinese government has been researching and studying the possibility of launching its own digital currency in recent years.

She said Beijing has also identified entities for a potential rollout.

A virtual yuan could become a reality "quite soon," Yeung said, adding that it could even challenge the U.S. dollar's global dominance.

Artificial Intelligence

From self-driving cars to cancer detection, artificial intelligence (AI) promises to improve and speed up every business in the world.

AI can be broadly defined as technology that replicates human intelligence and behavior, in areas such as problem-solving, learning and reasoning.

The leadership in Beijing announced in 2017 that it wants to become the world leader in artificial intelligence by 2030.

"China is absolutely leading the world in AI," according to Frank Hester, founder of TPP, a UK-based healthtech company that has been doing business in China since 2013. "I've seen a change over the past 5 years (in China) … it's almost the policy now to do business with foreigners, which is great."

According to Alain Bénichou, CEO of IBM's Greater China business, 14% of firms in China have embraced AI technology. He said the rate of adoption in China is higher than the global average, but there is room to grow.

— CNBC's Arjun Kharpal, Kevin Shalvey and Elizabeth Schulze contributed to this story.

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