China has 86,000 5G base stations in operation and expects to have 130,000 activated by the end of the year.

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China plans to integrate 5G technology with the manufacturing industry, transport, energy and agriculture, said vice minister for information technology, Chen Zhaoxiang, at the launch. State media said 400 companies from 10 countries attended.

Chinese company Huawei, which provides much of China's 5G equipment, is facing US restrictions and uncertainty over whether critical components such as US microchips will continue to be supplied amid a technology race and trade war between the US and China.

State media said China's 5G market was open to foreign companies and American 5G chipmakers Qualcomm and Intel would benefit from Chinese sales.