China says venture funding rebounds as investors back AI, quantum technology

China's venture capital sector is recovering, with investment in early-stage startups, smaller companies, long-term projects and hard-tech industries becoming a key market trend, China's vice science and technology minister Qiu Yong said on Tuesday, state media CCTV reported.

* Fundraising in China's equity investment market exceeded 1 trillion yuan ($149.17 billion) in the first half of 2026, up 49% from a year earlier, Qiu told a press conference.

* Qiu said investments were focusing on hard-tech and future industries such as artificial intelligence and quantum technology, supporting breakthroughs in key technologies and the commercialisation of research results.


($1 = 6.7036 Chinese yuan renminbi)