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Industrial Flow Solutions Assumes Full Manufacturing Operations of Its Proprietary OverWatch® Direct In-Line Pump Products

NEW HAVEN, Conn. and MONSELICE, Italy, July 20, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Industrial Flow Solutions (IFS), a global fluid management solutions provider, announced that it has assumed full manufacturing operations of its proprietary OverWatch® Direct In-Line Pump product line, including the DIP Système, DIP-Booster, DomoDIP, SIDINOX, DIPCut, and other accessories. This marks the culmination of Industrial Flow Solutions’ strategic investment in the product line following its acquisition, positioning IFS as the single, integrated source for the design, manufacture, and support of the OverWatch platform across all global markets.

Overwatch Direct In-Line Pump System by Industrial Flow Solutions
Overwatch Direct In-Line Pump System by Industrial Flow Solutions

Over a series of transactions spanning 2019 to 2021, Industrial Flow Solutions acquired the full intellectual property portfolio and worldwide commercial rights for the product line from SIDE Industrie, which continued to provide contract manufacturing support while IFS developed its own production lines. Through significant investments in the engineering and manufacturing capabilities across its New Haven, Connecticut and Monselice, Italy facilities, IFS is now well positioned to serve the strong and growing global demand for the OverWatch product line as its sole manufacturer, having operated in this capacity since the second half of 2025.

“We continue to be excited about the growth potential of our innovative OverWatch product line,” said Lance Wadley, Chief Commercial Officer, Industrial Flow Solutions. “After years of investment and development, we are fully prepared to serve the existing installed base while meeting the significant market demand ahead from our integrated IFS locations.”

For all customer inquiries, including existing installations, open projects, and service requests, please contact:

About Industrial Flow Solutions

Industrial Flow Solutions specializes in the design, manufacturing, sales and service of pumping and fluid management solutions for harsh, rugged environments. With OverWatch® Direct In­-Line Pump Systems, BJM Pumps® products, Stancor® Pumps and Controls, DERAGGER® Intelligent Controls and Dreno Pompe products, the company offers a comprehensive portfolio of Intelligent Pumping Solutions including submersible and direct in-line pumps and controls ideal for industrial, commercial and municipal wastewater applications. Headquartered in New Haven, Conn., Industrial Flow Solutions is a portfolio company of May River Capital, a Chicago-based private-equity firm focused on lower middle-market industrial growth companies. For more information, please visit https://flowsolutions.com.

May River Capital
May River Capital

 

Industrial Flow Solutions
Industrial Flow Solutions

 

From Sponsor to Co‑creator: How Coca‑Cola Crafted “Our FIFA World Cup” for Chinese Fans

SHANGHAI, July 20, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — As the 2026 FIFA World Cup drew to a close, the Chinese national team was absent from the pitch, but the passion of Chinese fans remained strong. Facing this reality, Coca‑Cola launched the “This Moment Toast to our FIFA World Cup” campaign across China, transforming the global tournament into a celebration that every consumer could call their own.

At the closing party of the Coca-Cola FIFA World Cup Fan Gathering on July 19, in Beijing, China, Coca-Cola successfully set a new Guinness World Records title for the most contributions to an online photo mosaic – which came together to form a giant TIFO in a virtual landscape. Leading up to this moment, TIFOs had traveled across football grounds and city leagues nationwide, inviting fans to join. Their late-night viewing moments and the joy of sharing a Coca‑Cola were woven into a giant TIFO, preserving individual memories and making them a collective legacy.


The custom anthem “JUMP,” performed by Coca-Cola Brand Ambassador Liu Yuning and international artist J.Balvin, blended traditional Chinese folk music with global rock rhythms, crafting a World Cup anthem tailored to Chinese fans. Its MV featured a red TIFO across Chinese landmarks, bringing local passion to the world stage. By scanning QR codes on Coca‑Cola packaging, fans could join the TIFO — turning every can into their own way to cheer for the World Cup.


Coca‑Cola also introduced a real‑time AI avatar of Chinese football icon Fan Zhiyi — an interactive companion for live sports viewing. Powered by Baidu Yijing, it offers 24/7 conversations with fans. Recreating Fan with remarkable fidelity, the avatar lets users discuss match action, share insights and converse naturally throughout the tournament. Unlike pre‑programmed virtual characters, it delivers a dynamic, always‑on experience — moving Coca‑Cola from post‑match content to in‑match participation, while setting a benchmark for Chinese AI in major sporting events.


Coca‑Cola’s campaign went beyond brand communication — it showed how a global brand can become part of consumers’ lives — connecting through shared experiences and co-created moments. Music stirred emotions, TIFO embodied co-creation, and AI delivered companionship. When the tournament ended, what stayed were not marketing messages, but the joy of sharing a Coca‑Cola with friends, the pride of being part of the TIFO, and the fun of chatting with AI Fan Zhiyi. This is the essence of a brand-consumer relationship.

7-Eleven Hits 1,000 CAFé Stores, Expands Airport Convenience Experience at KLIA

Milestone reflects Malaysians’ growing demand for quality grab-and-go food and coffee, with KLIA café bringing greater convenience to millions of travellers


KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA – Media OutReach Newswire – 20 July 2026 – As Malaysians increasingly embrace grab-and-go lifestyles and quality coffee on the move, 7-Eleven Malaysia today marked a major milestone with the opening of its 1,000th CAFé by 7-Eleven outlet at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) Terminal 1, reinforcing its commitment to making quality food and beverages more accessible wherever customers are.

From left to right: Mr. Wong Wai Keong, Co-CEOs of 7-Eleven Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., Ms. Hani Ezra Hussin, Senior General Manager – Commercial Services of Malaysian Airport Holdings Berhad, Mr. Tan U-Ming, Co-CEOs of 7-Eleven Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., Mr. Zulhikam Ahmad, General Manager – Commercial (Business Performance & Growth) of Malaysian Airport Holdings Berhad, Jim Girard - Senior Regional Director of 7-Eleven International and Estaban Velasquez, Senior Director and Controller of 7-Eleven International officiating the opening of the 1,000th CAFé by 7-Eleven store at KLIA Terminal 1.
From left to right: Mr. Wong Wai Keong, Co-CEOs of 7-Eleven Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., Ms. Hani Ezra Hussin, Senior General Manager – Commercial Services of Malaysian Airport Holdings Berhad, Mr. Tan U-Ming, Co-CEOs of 7-Eleven Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., Mr. Zulhikam Ahmad, General Manager – Commercial (Business Performance & Growth) of Malaysian Airport Holdings Berhad, Jim Girard – Senior Regional Director of 7-Eleven International and Estaban Velasquez, Senior Director and Controller of 7-Eleven International officiating the opening of the 1,000th CAFé by 7-Eleven store at KLIA Terminal 1.

Located at Level 5, next to the Domestic Departure Gate at KLIA Terminal 1, the milestone café places freshly brewed coffee, hot meals and ready-to-eat favourites within easy reach of one of Malaysia’s busiest transport hubs. KLIA Terminal 1 serves approximately 28 to 30 million passengers annually, with around 13,000 to 14,000 departing and arriving travellers each day. During peak operating hours, the terminal can accommodate nearly 6,800 passengers per hour, while festive travel periods see passenger volumes surge significantly.

More than just another store opening, the milestone reflects how CAFé by 7-Eleven has evolved into an integral part of Malaysians’ daily routines, serving everyone from busy professionals grabbing their morning coffee to students on the go, families travelling home, and holidaymakers beginning their next adventure.

With more Malaysians seeking convenient, quality food and coffee throughout the day, CAFé by 7-Eleven has steadily expanded to meet evolving consumer lifestyles. The opening of its 1,000th outlet at KLIA marks another milestone in bringing that convenience to one of Malaysia’s busiest travel gateways.

The choice of KLIA for this milestone reflects 7-Eleven Malaysia’s strategy of expanding into high-traffic locations where convenience matters most. As consumer lifestyles become increasingly mobile, transport hubs have become key destinations for quick, quality food and beverage solutions, allowing CAFé by 7-Eleven to better serve travellers at every stage of their journey.

Commenting on the milestone, Mr. Wong Wai Keong, Co-CEO of 7-Eleven Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., said the opening of the company’s 1,000th CAFé by 7-Eleven represents more than a numerical milestone. It reflects how consumer expectations and lifestyles have evolved over the years.

“Today’s customers expect quality coffee, fresh meals and convenience wherever they are, whether they’re heading to work, commuting across town or catching a flight. Over the years, we’ve transformed CAFé by 7-Eleven into a destination that fits naturally into those everyday moments. Convenience today is no longer just about being nearby. It’s about being exactly where customers need us most, whether that’s in neighbourhoods, commercial districts or one of the country’s busiest airports.”

“There is no better place to celebrate this milestone than KLIA, one of Malaysia’s busiest travel gateways. Millions of passengers pass through the airport every year, making it the ideal location for us to demonstrate how convenience retail can better serve today’s increasingly mobile consumers. Whether they’re catching an early morning flight, returning home or travelling for business, we want CAFé by 7-Eleven to be part of that journey.”

As one of Malaysia’s largest convenience retailers, 7-Eleven continues to evolve beyond traditional retail by expanding CAFé by 7-Eleven across neighbourhoods, commercial districts, hospitals, transport hubs and major travel gateways. Offering an expanding range of food, beverages and ready-to-enjoy meal options, the growing network reflects the company’s commitment to making quality food and beverages more accessible wherever customers need them.

The KLIA outlet represents another step in that strategy, enhancing the travel experience by ensuring customers can conveniently enjoy fresh food and beverages before departure without compromising on quality or speed.

Today, with more than 2,700 stores nationwide and 1,000 CAFé by 7-Eleven outlets, the company continues to strengthen its position as Malaysia’s leading convenience retailer by adapting to evolving consumer expectations through innovation, accessibility and everyday convenience.

As Malaysians continue to embrace increasingly mobile lifestyles and seek greater convenience in their daily routines, 7-Eleven Malaysia remains committed to expanding CAFé by 7-Eleven into locations where quality food and beverages are needed most. Guided by its promise of “Always There For You”, the company will continue bringing greater convenience to customers wherever life takes them.

Hashtag: #7eleven

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About 7-Eleven Malaysia

7-Eleven Malaysia Holdings Berhad through its subsidiary 7-Eleven Malaysia Sdn. Bhd. is the owner and operator of 7-Eleven stores in Malaysia. Incorporated on 4 June 1984, 7-Eleven Malaysia has made its mark in the retailing scene and has been a prominent icon for over 40 years. 7-Eleven Malaysia is the pioneer and largest 24-hour standalone convenience store operator in Malaysia with over 2,700 outlets nationwide and serves more than 1 million customers daily. 7-Eleven stores can be found across bustling commercial districts to serene suburban residential compounds throughout Malaysia, from petrol stations and LRT stations to shopping malls and medical institutions. My7E loyalty app boasted an impressive membership of 3.7 million users. As we forge ahead, our commitment remains steadfast in enriching the experience for our valued members, offering an array of rewards that enhance their journey as My7E enthusiasts. 7-Eleven is Always There For You. To learn more, please visit our website at

China’s Guizhou Village Super League Creates New Opportunities for Agriculture

GUIYANG, China, July 20, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — A news report from CNS: Cheers filled the football pitch as the semifinals of China’s Village Super League, or “Cun Chao,” kicked off in Rongjiang County, southwest China’s Guizhou Province, from July 18 to 19. Outside the stadium, another lively scene unfolded as visitors browsed local specialties including golden passion fruit, tea and Rosa roxburghii drinks.

The e-commerce team conducted a live sales event for Rongjiang Golden Passion Fruit during the "Village Super League" broadcast live stream.
The e-commerce team conducted a live sales event for Rongjiang Golden Passion Fruit during the “Village Super League” broadcast live stream.

Around 100 booths showcased agricultural products from across Guizhou, while livestream e-commerce, tastings and interactive activities turned the popular rural football event into a new platform for promoting local produce.

At a livestreaming booth, golden passion fruit grown in Rongjiang was presented to online consumers.

“In the past, consumers outside Guizhou knew little about Rongjiang’s golden passion fruit. As the Village Super League became popular, more people came to know Rongjiang and its products,” said Yuan Kepeng, a staff member of a participating company.

According to Yuan, the passion fruit sold during the livestream came from local farmers, with customers now extending beyond Guizhou to coastal areas including Guangdong Province.

Zhang Yunfeng, who has been livestreaming Guizhou agricultural products for three years, moved his studio to the edge of the football pitch, introducing passion fruit, bayberry juice and local tea to viewers.

Zhang said the tournament brought more viewers into his livestream. Many first asked about Rongjiang and the football matches before turning their attention to local products, with some placing orders because of their interest in the Village Super League.

“The value is not just about how much we sell,” Zhang said. “What matters more is letting more people know what good products this place has to offer.”

The tournament is also turning visitor flows into local consumption. A tourist surnamed He from Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, brought her child to Rongjiang during a family trip. They watched the football, sampled local specialties and joined activities at the market.

“I wanted to watch a match in person and let my child see more of Guizhou,” she said.

The market is part of a provincial initiative to promote agricultural brands and support farmers. By combining sports, markets and livestream commerce, the event seeks to connect the crowds drawn by rural football with local agricultural products.

In recent years, grassroots sporting events including the Village Basketball Association, or “Cun BA,” and the Village Super League have attracted growing numbers of visitors to Guizhou’s countryside, bringing new opportunities for tourism, consumption and local businesses.

After the final whistle, visitors continued browsing the market while online orders kept coming in. The popularity of rural sports is helping Guizhou’s farm products reach consumers far beyond the football pitch.

 

Xinhua Silk Road: Technology, innovative cultivation model fuel morel mushroom industry in Shizhong District of Zaozhuang

BEIJING, July 20, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Rows of morel mushrooms are growing vigorously inside greenhouses at a planting base in the Liangyuan Fruit Tree Farmers Professional Cooperative in Shizhong District of Zaozhuang City, east China’s Shandong Province, serving as a new source of income for local farmers.

Known as the “king of mushrooms,” morel mushrooms are of high economic value. However, traditional cultivation approach of continuous cropping has long posed a challenge, disrupting soil ecology and causing significant yield declines, thereby constraining the sustainable development of the local morel mushroom industry.

To address this challenge, the cooperative has strengthened collaboration among universities, research institutions and industry partners. With technical support from experts at Qingdao Agricultural University (QAU), agricultural technological personnel and local agricultural authorities, it has introduced an innovative crop rotation system that pairs morel mushrooms with radishes, corn and shepherd’s purse.

The model has helped improve soil quality, suppress harmful fungi and overcome the continuous-cropping problem, enabling two harvests a year from the same plot while ensuring stable, high yields of morel mushrooms for four consecutive years.

Assessment conducted by the QAU shows that the base produces more than 1,250 kilograms of morel mushrooms per mu (about 0.067 hectares), meeting the benchmark for high yields. The mushrooms generate an average net income of around 40,000 yuan per mu, far exceeding income earned from conventional grain crops.

The Shizhong District has established an integrated support system that provides farmers with mushroom spawn, technical guidance and producer-consumer match-making services, helping create local jobs, raise rural incomes and strengthen collective economies in the village.

Leveraging diversified online and offline sales channels and a complete cold-chain logistics network, local producers have expanded market access and increased the value of their products.

Empowered by technologies and innovative cultivation practices, Shizhong District has charted a path toward green, efficient and sustainable agricultural development, providing a model for the transformation and upgrading of the edible mushroom industry. 

Original link: https://en.imsilkroad.com/p/351396.html

Media OutReach Newswire Strengthens USA Distribution Network

The newswire guarantees online postings on USA Today and increases its guaranteed distribution on high-domain-rating local US news sites to empower AI visibility


HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 20 July 2026 – Media OutReach Newswire, the first global newswire founded in Asia Pacific, has expanded its USA distribution network with additional guaranteed news postings.

Guaranteed news postings on USA Today
Guaranteed news postings on USA Today

Through new strategic agreements, Media OutReach Newswire now provides clients with guaranteed online postings in flagship American media outlets like USA Today, Yahoo Finance, and The Associated Press, alongside more than 650 trusted news sites with domain authority. This latest service upgrade specifically targets guaranteed online news postings in media with domain authority to empower AI visibility. By combining distribution with JSON-LD Schema Markup that provides context and meaning to the press release for search engines and AI models to interpret its content accurately, Media OutReach Newswire’s press release distribution structures answers for AI discoverability and AI citation. Media OutReach Newswire’s press release distribution service has been helping companies and government agencies to actively build their AI visibility.

Media OutReach Newswire guarantees news release placements in the official, public-facing press release section of USA Today. With a Domain Authority (DA) rated between 92 and 94 out of 100, USA Today ranks as one of the most trusted news sources for Generative Engine Optimization (GEO). Attracting more than 120.5 million unique monthly visitors, this integration delivers the public visibility necessary to build client brand credibility and trust on a national stage. Additionally, the newswire has secured guaranteed news postings on real local and regional news websites, including The Arizona Republic, Detroit Free Press, Indianapolis Star, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, The Tennessean, and The Oklahoman.

“By improving the quality of our guaranteed news postings on trusted, Google-indexed news sites with domain authority, coupled with the direct delivery of press releases to journalists’ inboxes, Media OutReach Newswire has successfully helped many Asian corporations to build their brand reputation in the US market,” said Jennifer Kok, Founder and CEO of Media OutReach Newswire.

“We are pleased to have built a USA press release distribution network that focuses exactly on what PR professionals need, a distribution that reaches journalists and provides quality news postings on real media. Our comprehensive journalist database built by in-house media researchers covers more than 500 trade news categories and 65,000 journalists and editors across quality media titles. This has helped our clients secure earned media coverage and journalist inquiries from business, technology, ESG, automotive, travel, and many other media sectors in the USA. In addition, Media OutReach Newswire’s partnership with The Associated Press delivers clients’ news releases directly into newsrooms across the United States,” added Jennifer.

Earned media coverage
Earned media coverage

Over the years, the newswire has cultivated brand trust with journalists at USA media outlets who actively engage with its client releases. Through its Media and Journalist Insights, Media OutReach Newswire is able to report on how many journalists by publication in the USA have opened its clients’ press releases and the earned media write ups achieved.

Media and Journalist Insights per release
Media and Journalist Insights per release
PR Intelligence Report for all releases
PR Intelligence Report for all releases

Through its Total PR and Communications Solution, Media OutReach Newswire’s global distribution network delivers client press releases directly to journalists, guarantees verbatim news postings on trusted news sites with domain authority to empower SEO and GEO, and provides post-release reports packed with data insights and PR Campaign Intelligence that tracks performance over time.

This total solution addresses the needs of PR and communication professionals from press release distribution through to reporting with data insights and PR Campaign Intelligence across both in-country and global PR campaigns. It has been entrusted by hundreds of clients in China, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Taiwan, Japan, South Korea and across APAC to expand their business and brand awareness overseas to markets in Canada, USA, UK & Europe, Latin America, Asia Pacific, ASEAN, Southeast Asia, Middle East, Gulf States and Africa.
Hashtag: #MediaOutReachNewswire #pressrelease #USA

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

About Media OutReach Newswire

Media OutReach Newswire is Asia Pacific’s first global newswire, serving as a trusted partner to media, corporations, agencies and governments across the region and the globe.

Founded in 2009 as a champion of the PR industry, Media OutReach Newswire leverages AI and SaaS technology to redefine press release distribution with a Total PR and Communications Solution. The newswire is focused on its core service of delivering press releases to journalists and editors in targeted media, posting client news releases on real media sites with domain authority (DA), and providing post release reports with data insights along with PR Campaign Intelligence that tracks performance over time. In March 2026, the newswire integrated JSON-LD Schema Markup into its online news postings to empower AI visibility for its clients.

With a global network of over 200,000 journalists and editors, 70,000+ media titles, 1,500+ media partners, and more than 40 languages, Media OutReach Newswire’s focus on providing guaranteed verbatim posting on real media sites powers SEO and GEO for building brand trust and AI visibility, as press releases published on authentic media with domain authority are trusted by search engines and AI models.

Headquartered in Hong Kong SAR with global press release distribution network spanning USA & Canada, Latin America, UK & Europe, the Middle East, Gulf States, Africa, Asia Pacific, Southeast Asia and ASEAN.

For more information about our services, solutions, and network, please visit

Thailand cuts 3.8 million tonnes of CO₂ through low-carbon cement, accelerating beyond NDC targets and advancing a collaborative Net Zero model


BANGKOK, THAILAND – Media OutReach Newswire – 20 July 2026 – Thailand has achieved a significant milestone in industrial greenhouse gas mitigation, reducing more than 3.8 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalent since 2019 through the implementation of clinker substitution under the Industrial Process and Product Use (IPPU) sector. This progress has been delivered ahead of the Thailand NDC Roadmap timeline, demonstrating the country’s capacity to translate climate policy into measurable outcomes. Central to this transition is the rapid scale-up of “hydraulic cement,” now serving as the primary structural cement nationwide and a key enabler of low-carbon construction.

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The achievement was formally recognized at the “TCMA at 20: The Next Chapter to Net Zero” event, where H.E. Mr. Varawut Silpa-archa, Minister of Industry, presided over an award ceremony honoring 34 implementing partners, supported by six ministries, for their collective contribution in driving policy into practice.

H.E. Mr. Varawut stated that the success of clinker substitution reflects the strength of multi-stakeholder collaboration across government, industry, academia, and professional bodies, enabling Thailand to accelerate greenhouse gas reduction while advancing green industry transformation and competitiveness.

“Greenhouse gas reduction becomes possible when all sectors work together; from policy and technology to real-world implementation. The success of clinker substitution is a tangible example of collaboration delivering real impact, and marks an important step toward Thailand’s Net Zero 2050 ambition.” H.E. Mr. Varawut said.

Mr. Surachai Nimla-or, Chairman of Thai Cement Manufacturers Association (TCMA), highlighted that the results were made possible through close coordination across sectors, driving national policy into implementation through R&D, standards development, technological advancement, and market adoption mechanisms.

“The reduction of over 3.8 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalent reflects the collective effort of all sectors in operationalizing national measures. The cement industry remains committed to advancing the transition toward a low-carbon economy.” Mr. Surachai said.

A key driver behind this success is the development and widespread adoption of hydraulic cement (low-carbon cement), which reduces the clinker content – the most carbon-intensive component in cement production – while maintaining performance and structural integrity in accordance with Thai Industrial Standard TIS 2594. Today, hydraulic cement is extensively used across the country in infrastructure projects, public buildings, industrial facilities, and residential construction, marking a systemic shift from alternative material to mainstream low-carbon construction solution.

Performance data underscores the pace of progress. In 2021, clinker substitution delivered over 300,000 tonnes of CO₂ reduction, achieving results nine years ahead of the NDC schedule. Between 2022–2023, an additional over 1 million tonnes of CO₂ reductions were realized. Cumulatively, from 2019 to present, emissions reductions have exceeded 3.8 million tonnes CO₂ equivalent.

This progress has been enabled by an integrated effort among 34 implementing partners, with policy and institutional support from six ministries, covering policy formulation, standards development, market promotion, and enabling mechanisms; underscoring the role of public–private partnership (PPP) in driving systemic transition.

Mr. Surachai further noted that the clinker substitution initiative represents a scalable model of translating national climate ambition into implementation, with potential for replication across other industrial sectors and expansion into regional collaboration frameworks.

“Hydraulic cement today is not only a low-carbon material; it is part of Thailand’s broader transition toward sustainable growth. It demonstrates that with strong collaboration, emissions reduction is not only possible, but achievable at scale.” Mr. Surachai said.

The success of clinker substitution reinforces Thailand’s leadership in industry-led climate action, highlighting how coordinated public–private efforts can deliver tangible emissions reductions while strengthening industrial resilience. It marks a critical step toward achieving Net Zero 2050, and offers a replicable model for industrial decarbonization at both national and regional levels.

Hashtag: #TCMA #TCMAat20 #TCMAinAction #TCMAtoNetZero2050 #CementDecarbonization #IPPU #ClinkerSubstitution #ClimateSolutionPartner #HydraulicCement #LowCarbonCement #NetZero2050

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Embracing an Intelligent Future: UnionPay Showcases AI Innovation at WAIC 2026

Release of Phased Achievements of the National Pilot Base for AI Application (Financial Sector) Held Alongside the Conference


SHANGHAI, CHINA – Media OutReach Newswire – 20 July 2026 – On 17 July, the 2026 World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) officially opened in Shanghai. UnionPay unveiled three proprietary AI technologies developed for the financial sector at the Shanghai exhibition area: financial transaction time-series foundation model, the Agentic Payment Open Protocol (APOP) framework, and a privacy-preserving large language model inference solution. As the AI era unfolds, the showcase highlights UnionPay’s continued commitment to accelerating the adoption of digital and intelligent technologies.

On 18 July, UnionPay hosted the Release of Phased Achievements of the National Pilot Base for AI Application (Financial Sector) at the UnionPay Center alongside WAIC 2026. The event brought together more than 100 representatives from commercial banks, Chinese and international partners, leading technology companies, academia, and research institutions. During the event, UnionPay released its “1+6+N” AI achievements framework, announced a series of industry partnerships, and launched a joint initiative calling for greater collaboration on the development and governance of the financial industry. These achievements demonstrate the progress of the National AI Application Pilot Base in building an open innovation platform that accelerates AI adoption across the industry.

Dong Junfeng, Chairman of China UnionPay and UnionPay International, attended the event and delivered a keynote speech. He noted that AI is rapidly reshaping the financial industry. Since the National AI Application Pilot Base was launched in 2025, it has delivered a number of meaningful outcomes through close collaboration across the industry. Mr. Dong elaborated on the vision for the development of the base from through three dimensions: sharing, collaborative governance, and mutual benefits. First, by pooling computing resources, data and models on a centralized public platform, the base helps address industry challenges such as the high cost of computing resources and data silos. This lowers barriers to AI adoption across the financial sector. Second, the base has strengthened AI security by building robust safeguards for large language models and applying AI to enhance transaction risk management and cybersecurity. Such efforts are made to support a safer and more resilient financial ecosystem. Third, the base is accelerating the AI adoption across real-world use cases. It has incubated a range of commercial AI solutions spanning agentic payments, credit risk management, consumption promotion and merchant digital transformation, turning technological innovation into tangible business value. Looking ahead, the future of AI + Finance holds enormous potential. UnionPay looks forward to working with partners across industries to build an open, shared, and well-governed financial AI ecosystem that supports the development of new productive forces through technological innovation.

A highlight of the event was the official launch of UnionPay’s “1+6+N” AI achievements framework.

The “1” represents a unified portal—the National AI Application Pilot Base. Built on a “One Portal, Six Centers” structure, it integrates six specialized centers covering models, datasets, applications, talent development, supply-demand matching, and financial services. Together, the platform currently hosts 11 models, 14 datasets, 59 demonstration applications, and 61 service offerings, bringing together 145 core resources in total.

The “6” refers to six independent and controllable capabilities, including computing resources scheduling through a trusted intelligent computing sharing platform, high-quality financial datasets, finance-specific foundation models, AI-powered financial security services, financial AI standards, and a pilot testing sandbox that supports model training and evaluation. Together, these six capabilities form the base’s shared technology foundation, providing ecosystem partners with the core technical infrastructure.

The “N” represents a portfolio of benchmark use cases, standardized AI solutions, and demonstration applications built on this technology foundation. These applications span five key areas—intelligent payments, inclusive finance, consumption growth, risk management and compliance, and operational excellence—building a multi-tier product portfolio serving consumers, merchants, local governments and financial institutions. This accelerates the application of AI capabilities across diverse use cases.

Together, the “1+6+N” framework of the base connects computing power, data, models, and use cases and forms an end-to-end value chain. By addressing common industry challenges—including limited computing resources, data silos and the high cost of AI deployment—it delivers standardized and widely accessible AI capabilities, providing the financial industry with reusable, highly secure and one-stop AI solutions for intelligent transformation. This also reflects UnionPay’s commitment not only to driving its own business growth, but also to enabling the industry through foundational capabilities and reinforcing financial infrastructure for the AI era.

These achievements have already been made available to industry partners and are beginning to create value. For banks, acquirers and other financial institutions, UnionPay’s shared infrastructure enables rapid access to mature financial AI capabilities without the need to build systems from scratch, significantly reducing both technical barriers and implementation costs. For merchants, UnionPay offers AI-powered marketing, digital analytics and intelligent risk management tools to support smarter operations, improve customer engagement and enhance operational efficiency, enabling even small and medium-sized businesses to benefit from AI innovation. For technology companies and other ecosystem partners, the base enables partners to rapidly adapt AI products for financial applications and complete compliance validation, accelerating the commercialization of technological innovations.

The event also featured six rounds of partnership signing ceremonies, covering areas including AI-themed card, cross-border agentic payment ecosystem development, AI-powered operational empowerment for merchants, joint commercialization of pilot base innovations, and broader ecosystem collaboration across the financial industry chain.

Following the signing ceremonies, UnionPay released the Initiative on the Collaborative Development and Governance of AI Applications in Financial Services, with representatives from participating organizations joining the stage to witness its launch. Building on the “1+6+N” framework, the initiative calls on industry stakeholders to collaborate in four areas: First, advancing trusted AI systems that serve the real economy by establishing governance mechanisms for traceable and explainable algorithms while safeguarding data privacy and security; Second, strengthening collaboration among industry, academia, research institutions and users, leveraging the base to jointly advance core technologies and develop independent and secure financial AI infrastructure; Third, promoting openness and inclusiveness by sharing mature AI models, testing services and implementation solutions to reduce the cost of intelligent transformation, particularly for SMEs; Fourth, improving lifecycle governance through tiered risk management, enhanced compliance standards and coordinated risk prevention. The initiative calls on all industry stakeholders to work together by jointly strengthening the foundation, unlocking greater value through shared capabilities, and reinforcing collaborative governance, with the goal of advancing the sound development of AI in the financial sector and driving digital finance through technological innovation.

Hashtag: #UnionPay

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.