Debate on whether China had lost its edge in manufacturing was triggered after media reports said Chinese customers were flocking to Japan for locally made toilet seat covers and electrical rice cookers.

Chen Yao, director of the Institute of Industrial Economics at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said China is a large manufacturing country, but not a manufacturing superpower because it lacks core technologies.

But Chen said the nation still holds an advantage as it has an established infrastructure to allow industrial manufacturing to boom.

Lin Zuoming, chairman of the Aviation Industry Corp of China, said this month during the two sessions－the country's annual legislative meetings－that China's plan to upgrade its industrial structure is challenged by an enormous shortage of highly skilled workers.

'Made in China 2025' lead sectors

? Information technology

? High-end numerical control machinery and automation

? Aerospace and aviation equipment

? Maritime engineering equipment and high-tech vessel manufacturing

? Advanced rail equipment

? Energy-saving vehicles

? Electrical equipment

? New materials

? Biomedicine and high-performance medical apparatus

? Agricultural equipment