New materials serve as the material foundation for China's efforts to boost its strength in manufacturing development and achieve high-quality development. The level of their research, development, and industrialization is a crucial indicator of a country's socioeconomic progress, technological advancement, and defense capabilities. This study analyzes the significant achievements in the innovative development of new materials in China over the past decade since the implementation of the strategy of building China into a strong manufacturing nation. It reviews landmark achievements and proposes key directions for the development of the new materials sector in China by 2035, along with pathways to accelerate innovation-driven growth. The study concludes that China's new materials industry has continuously expanded in scale, enhanced its technological competitiveness, significantly improved its capacity for independent supply, strengthened its innovation capabilities, and accelerated industrial transformation and upgrading. The industry has transitioned from a phase of scale expansion "primarily focused on solving the problem of availability" to a high-quality development stage aimed at meeting major strategic needs of the country and enhancing international competitiveness. Looking ahead, there is an urgent need to align with the strategic demands of major application scenarios for material development. Priority should be given to developing materials for the next-generation information technology, new energy materials, materials for high-end manufacturing and major projects, as well as next-generation biomedical materials. Additionally, it is essential to accelerate the establishment of a new paradigm for new materials research and development based on artificial intelligence, thereby enhancing China's original innovation capability in new materials.