中国制造:从模仿到创新

More now on Made In China -- our series of special reports which look at developments in China's manufacturing sector. Today, Jin Yingqiao takes a look a the dividing line between innovation and imitation - and how China is trying to shed its image as a copycat manufacturer, and bring the design process 'in-house'.

Apple's iWatch. The same day the company started taking orders. The copies began appearing in China.

1 to 1.

That means it looks the same and maybe even works the same, but it's not the real deal.

Money saved perhaps, but is a cheaper price tag always the bottom line?

"Products Made in China can sometimes be less refined, less sturdy and not as intricate as foreign products."

"I buy more foreign brands. They have higher quality, and are more famous. There are some good aspects to Chinese brands, but most of them are not as attractive."

Some experts say this is merely a normal learning step within any developing tech sector.

But others argue that it's damaging China's reputation, and worse, actually discouraging creativity.

"What most of our business people or designers do is try to improve the cosmetic appearance of a product. True innovation is rare," Liu Guanzhong with Tsinghua University said.

Some companies are already learning the lesson.

This machine is used to dig subway lines and stations.

It's been designed and built in China - and the company has revolutionised the traditional round-sized machine, making it rectangular - to maximise underground space.

The push for innovation is coming right from the top.

Xi Jinping has often talked about boosting innovation and the central government has issued guidelines aimed at inducing a more favorable environment for creativity.

"There are government reforms, especially in company registration, that are giving more impetus for entrepreneurship. Yes, we have to count on big companies, but that's not enough. We must also pay great attention to SMEs and start-ups," Industry & Information Minister Miao Yu said.

Just as the Chinese economy is facing a New Normal of rising consumerism and lower growth, the New Normal for Chinese industry will see a drive to focus more on quality over quantity.

Despite challenges, hopes are high that China can one day become an innovative powerhouse for the world.