Technology set to transform factories

China will rely more on new technologies in future to maintain the vitality of the manufacturing sector, the head of the industry's watchdog said on Friday.

The country is already the world's largest manufacturer, and aims to become one of the strongest in the next 10 years, according to Miao Wei, head of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology.

The adoption of the "Internet of Things", a technology that enables a wide range of machines and devices to be interconnected, and the introduction of robots are major ways for Chinese factories to improve their global competitiveness, Miao said.