31.7 C
Vientiane
Wednesday, May 21, 2025
spot_img
Home Blog Page 235

Asia Agri-Tech Expo & Forum 2025 Taiwan’s Premier B2B Platform for Smart and Sustainable Agriculture

TAIPEI, April 17, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — The Asia Agri-Tech Expo & Forum (AAT) will return for its 9th edition from June 11 to 13, 2025, at the ICC Tainan, Taiwan. As Taiwan’s only B2B international trade show dedicated to agriculture, livestock, and aquaculture, the event will be held alongside Livestock Taiwan and Aquaculture Taiwan, expecting to welcome over 20,000 professionals and buyers from across Asia and beyond.

Relocated to Tainan for the first time in 2024, the event attracted over 27,000 professionals and received overwhelming positive feedback!
Relocated to Tainan for the first time in 2024, the event attracted over 27,000 professionals and received overwhelming positive feedback!

Embracing the AI Era – Driving Smart Agriculture Forward

With the rapid rise of AI and smart technologies, agriculture in Asia is undergoing a major transformation. AAT 2025 will spotlight automation and digital innovation, featuring agricultural robots, smart livestock systems, precision irrigation, and crop monitoring technologies. These cutting-edge solutions aim to boost production efficiency, lower labor dependence, and support sustainable farming practices. For businesses in Southeast Asia, AAT offers valuable insights and practical tools to modernize operations and enhance competitiveness.

One-Stop Sourcing Across the Agricultural Value Chain

From upstream to downstream, AAT 2025 brings together a wide spectrum of suppliers offering:

  • Breeding stock & aquatic fries
  • Feed additives & animal health solutions
  • Incubation and farming equipment
  • Water quality & biosafety systems
  • Greenhouse technologies & smart farming tools

It is a one-stop destination for Southeast Asian buyers and distributors seeking reliable partners, innovative products, and market-ready solutions.

Insightful Forums – Discover New Trends and Business Models

AAT 2025 will feature international forums and focused seminars covering the latest agri-tech trends, investment opportunities, and practical challenges in the region. Industry leaders and innovators will share case studies and best practices, making it an ideal venue for Southeast Asian stakeholders to gain first-hand knowledge and explore collaboration potential.

Networking that Matters – Build Regional and Cross-Border Partnerships

In addition to the exhibition and conferences, AAT provides targeted networking opportunities for exhibitors and buyers to engage in meaningful business discussions. Whether you are looking to expand distribution, explore joint ventures, or source new technologies, AAT helps turn connections into long-term value.

Event Information & Registration

Website: www.agritechtaiwan.com
Event Dates: June 11–13, 2025
Venue: ICC Tainan, Taiwan
Organizer: Informa Markets Asia Ltd. (Taiwan Branch)
Co-organizers: Ministry of Agriculture, Taiwan & Tainan City Government
Theme: “Harvesting Innovation” – Sustainability, Innovation, and Food Safety

About Informa Markets

Informa Markets creates platforms for industries and specialist markets to trade, innovate, and grow. Through in-person exhibitions, digital services, and data-driven solutions, Informa connects global players and supports year-round business development. Its portfolio spans sectors such as agriculture, aquaculture, livestock, food, medical technology, and infrastructure.
Learn more: www.informamarkets.com

Informa Markets Asia Ltd Taiwan Branch
Mr. Eason Leung
Eason.Leung@informa.com 
TEL: +886-2-27383898 #51

The event gathered key stakeholders from industry, government, and academia, marking the official opening of the Asia Agri-Tech Expo.
The event gathered key stakeholders from industry, government, and academia, marking the official opening of the Asia Agri-Tech Expo.

Professional discussions at the forum provided fresh perspectives and guidance for the poultry industry.
Professional discussions at the forum provided fresh perspectives and guidance for the poultry industry.

Whale TV and TPV to Launch Whale TV Enabled Smart TVs Across Asia

SINGAPORE, April 17, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Whale TV, the world’s leading independent TV operating system maker, today announced the next step in its partnership with TPV to launch Whale TV models to Asia. As part of the deal, TPV will also join the Whale Profit Sharing Program, which allows TV brands to share in the monetization revenue generated by Whale TV on devices. The first Whale TV models from TPV – in 32″ and 43″ screen sizes – are expected to launch in May 2025 and will be available in retail stores in Singapore, Taiwan region, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, India and the Philippines.

Whale TV and TPV to Launch Smart TVs Across Asia
Whale TV and TPV to Launch Smart TVs Across Asia

“We’ve been working with TPV for a long time and are excited to delight consumers together with a smart and simple TV experience,” said Jason He, CEO of Whale TV. “Our OS -Whale TV blends the traditional linear broadcast world seamlessly with streaming, and helps consumers find entertainment quickly.”

Whale TV is a licensable TV operating system that enables TV brands to build smart, easy-to-use televisions. The new models from TPV will initially ship with Whale OS 3 and will shortly be upgraded to Whale OS 10 that offers consumers a more personalized viewing experience through user profiles and AI-powered recommendations. It also features Whale AI Voice allowing users to control their TV and search for entertainment using their own voice.

Whale TV helps users effortlessly find and enjoy their favorite entertainment, whether it’s streamed, broadcasted or played on a connected device. Consumers can download hundreds of streaming apps from the Whale TV app store, including popular choices such as Netflix, Prime Video and YouTube. They can also enjoy thousands of hours of free TV on the Free TV section and on Whale TV+.

About Whale TV

Whale TV is an independent TV operating system that makes TVs smart and simple to use. Since its inception in 2011, the company has worked with 400+ TV brands and enables 43.5M monthly active TVs around the world to help consumers discover, find and watch their favorite entertainment. With its easy-to-use TV OS, the company connects consumers, TV brands, content providers and advertisers. Whale TV is headquartered in Singapore and has teams collaborating across the globe to make TV better for everyone.

About TPV

TPV Technology Limited (‘TPV’), formerly known as Admiral Overseas Corporation, one of the world’s leading monitor and TV manufacturers.

TPV is today one of the largest global players in the consumer TV and audio industries. It develops, manufactures and markets consumer electronics products and technologies that offer a superior audio and visual experience. With a strong focus on the consumer and hospitality market, TPV’s product portfolio includes consumer audio products and televisions, professional displays and content operation systems. These products, and solutions, are brought to market through TPV’s own brand AOC, as well as the Philips brand, used under license from Philips N.V.

Home to leading electronic brands and award-winning products, TPV employs over 30,000 people globally, with operations in Europe, Americas, Middle East, India and selected countries in Asia-Pacific. TPV adds value in everyday lives and society through its expertise in product development, design, operational excellence and responsible manufacturing.

Rönesans Holding to Fuel Economic Growth with New $2 Billion Polypropylene (PP) Production Plant and Terminal Investments in Türkiye

  • Will be one of the largest industrial investments ever undertaken by the private sector in Türkiye and the largest investment in Rönesans’ history, expected to directly contribute $300 million annually to Türkiye’s balance of payments.
  • A total of $1.3 billion in financing, led by the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) for the PP production plant and Spain’s Export Credit Agency (Cesce) for the PP production plant and terminal, underscoring the project’s global importance.
  • The investments secure landmark partnership with Africa’s largest company, SONATRACH and one of the world’s leading integrated supply chain solution providers for specialty liquid bulk chemicals, Stolt-Nielsen.

ISTANBUL, April 17, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Rönesans Holding, one of Türkiye’s largest contracting and investment conglomerates, has closed the financing to progress the development of a major new PP production plant and terminal facility, which will be one of the largest private sector investments in Türkiye.

Ceyhan Polypropylene (PP) Production Plant and Terminal
Ceyhan Polypropylene (PP) Production Plant and Terminal
Erman Ilıcak, Honorary President of Rönesans Holding
Erman Ilıcak, Honorary President of Rönesans Holding

This landmark undertaking, valued at $2 billion, is expected to boost Türkiye’s industrial self-sufficiency and strengthen its global trade position – reducing the country’s import dependence.

The development is comprised of two distinct components financed separately by international financiers. The first is the PP production plant, being developed by Rönesans and SONATRACH (as a shareholder and feedstock supplier), with an annual production capacity of 472,500 metric tons, meeting roughly 17% of Türkiye’s PP demand.

“This development exemplifies our commitment to sustainable, high-impact investments that support Türkiye’s economic and industrial ambitions,” said Erman Ilıcak, Honorary President of Rönesans Holding. “The Ceyhan PP Plant will not only bring hundreds of new jobs to the region but also secure a more resilient and competitive supply chain for PP, a vital raw material for industries across Türkiye and Europe. Furthermore, the fact that the project is fully financed by foreign resources highlights our ability to attract international investment, strengthening both foreign financing and FDI inflows into Türkiye.”

In this regard, Rachid Hachichi, CEO of SONATRACH also stated as follows: “The decision to invest in Türkiye is mainly driven by the dynamic and expanding market demand for PP. This location proves to be ideal considering its well-established and constantly evolving industry. In-depth studies reveal favourable economic prospects and promising profitability indicators.”

The second component is the terminal facility, which will be developed in partnership with Stolt-Nielsen’s global bulk liquid storage business, Stolthaven Terminals, and provide jetty and feedstock storage services for the new plant and other possible future customers.

Guy Bessant, President of Stolthaven Terminals, added: “We are pleased to partner with Rönesans Holding on this landmark project. Stolthaven Terminals has more than 50 years’ experience in the safe and efficient handling and storage of bulk liquids and gases, and proven expertise in developing complex and large-scale storage projects. This terminal will not only provide storage for the Ceyhan PP Plant but is also part of the DAPEK Industrial Zone which, in future, could provide storage and logistics solutions for local and international companies looking for distribution services in the region.”

Strong Partnerships and Sustainable Practices

The two projects will use environmentally advanced technology to ensure production efficiency and sustainability. The PP production plant aims to achieve the world’s lowest GHG emissions per tonne of PP produced globally, benefiting from 100% renewable electricity and high-efficiency production methods.

The projects have collectively attracted strong international financial backing with a loan package totalling $1.3 billion from international financiers, including, for the production plant, the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) together with a consortium of international commercial lenders under Cesce coverage, including ING (also acting as Global Coordinator and Documentation Bank), BBVA, Denizbank AG – Austria, DZ BANK and TAEF (formerly Apicorp), with Deutsche Bank as Cesce Facility Agent and, for the Terminal, ING and BBVA under Cesce coverage along with Vakıfbank as commercial lender.

Economic Impact and Commitment to Regional Development

Türkiye is one of the world’s largest PP importers, with demand led by key sectors including automotive, textiles and packaging. Currently, the total annual PP consumption in Türkiye is approximately 2.7 million metric tons, with domestic production able to supply only around 100,000 metric tons of material to the market.

The Ceyhan PP production plant will be strategically located within Türkiye’s DAPEK Industrial Zone, providing logistical and financial advantages that are set to support the local economy and reduce Türkiye’s trade deficit by approximately $300 million annually. The project is expected to create 4,500 construction jobs at its peak and provide 300 permanent jobs once operational.

Aligned with Rönesans Holding’s core values, the project includes initiatives to enhance local skills and employment opportunities. Programmes, including a welding school established for the plant, will support education and skill-building within the region, bringing long-term benefits to the Ceyhan community and contributing to Türkiye’s socio-economic development.

About Rönesans Holding

Rönesans Holding, the conglomerate’s leading investment entity headquartered in Ankara, is the 53rd largest international contracting company globally and one of the largest in Europe. With operations spanning 30 countries across Europe, Central Asia, and Africa, including subsidiaries such as Ballast Nedam in the Netherlands and Heitkamp Industrial Solutions GmbH in Germany, Rönesans has been operating as the main contractor and investor successfully for more than 30 years in construction, real estate, concession, renewable energy and industrials. Putting resilience and growth through innovation at the core of the company, with a priority on sustainability and social development, Rönesans has developed projects supporting students with scholarships, academic platforms and initiatives; been a signatory of the UN Global Compact since 2015; and a signatory of the UN Women’s Empowerment Principles since 2016.

Under the leadership of its Honorary President, Erman Ilıcak, Rönesans, along with its partners GIC, Meridiam Infrastructure, Sojitz, Samsung C&T, TotalEnergies, and IFC of the World Bank Group (minority shareholder in the group), has invested more than EUR 8 billion into pioneering projects globally.

About SONATRACH

Since 1963, SONATRACH has been the unwavering driving force behind the national economy, masterfully developing Algeria’s hydrocarbon reserves, known as the African major, this player in the oil and gas industry derives its strength from its ability to be fully integrated group across the entire hydrocarbon value chain.

SONATRACH operates either independently or in partnership with foreign oil firms some of world’s largest oil & gas fields in different regions of Algerian Sahara, Downstream activities include six active refineries, two petrochemical complexes, four LNG plants, and two LPG separation units. These production activities are fully supported and ensured by a 22,000-kilometre length network and four oil ports developed for loading and unloading large tankers with a capacity of 80,000 up to 320,000 MT.

SONATRACH aims to position itself among the top five national oil firms in the global energy industry, focusing on efficiency and profitability whilst maintaining its role as a cornerstone of the Algerian economy.

The group plan to invest over $59 billion as part of its strategy to develop its operation. This investment is expected to generate more than $68 billion in additional revenue, with 50% of with to be reinvested into renewing reserves, expending production capacity, and employee training.

About Stolthaven Terminals

With a global network of 15 owned and joint-venture terminals, Stolthaven Terminals provides five million cbm of storage and distribution services for bulk liquids including chemicals, clean petroleum products, liquified petroleum gases, vegetable oils, biofuels and oleochemicals. Stolthaven’s mission is to deliver value to its customers through operating state-of-the-art terminals which complement the capabilities of its sister companies Stolt Tankers and Stolt Tank Containers, ensuring an efficient ship-to-shore interface with the aim of reducing potential demurrage costs and facilitating agile and competitive supply chains. All within an environment of assured quality, safety and environmental protection.

Stolthaven Terminals is a division of Stolt-Nielsen Limited (SNL). A long-term investor and manager of businesses focused on opportunities in logistics, distribution and aquaculture. The Stolt-Nielsen portfolio consists of its three global bulk-liquid and chemicals logistics businesses – Stolt Tankers, Stolthaven Terminals and Stolt Tank Containers – Stolt Sea Farm and investments in LNG. Stolt-Nielsen Limited is listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange (Oslo Børs: SNI).

 

Over 160 Accidents, 15 Deaths Reported During 2025 Lao New Year Celebrations

Laos Records Over 160 Accidents, 15 Deaths During 2025 New Year
On 14 April, a red SUV crashed into a red three-wheeled vehicle that was parked on a side road at 2:19 am in Phonepapao Village, Chanthabouly district, Vientiane Capital. (photo credit: Sebastien Perret)

The 2025 Lao New Year celebrations, held from 14 to 16 April, saw 15 fatalities and over 160 road accidents nationwide.

Huawei Launches Five Aviation Solutions to Accelerate Intelligence

MADRID, April 17, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — During the Passenger Terminal Expo 2025, Huawei launched five aviation solutions including the Smart Airport Intelligent Operation Center (IOC) to advance intelligent industry upgrades.

Huawei deeply integrates novel technologies with aviation services to create the architecture of intelligent digital twins that synergizes connectivity, cloud, AI, computing, and application. This architecture aims to significantly enhance operational efficiency, business value, safety, and passenger experience.

  • Huawei’s Smart Airport IOC enables precise and efficient decision-making through all-domain situational awareness. With Total Airport Management (TAM) concept at its heart, the IOC streamlines production and operations systems and seamlessly connects more than 30 airport production systems, providing a holistic view on one map. It monitors operations in real time, deploys service resources in advance, proactively handles disruptions, strengthens security management, and improves passenger experience.
  • Huawei’s Smart Airport Perimeter Security with Fiber Sensing Solution elevates airport operational security. Using innovative technologies like Huawei’s distributed fiber optic sensing and AI sensing algorithms, the solution can precisely identify airfield intrusions under harsh weather conditions. It misses no alarms and generates very few false alarms.
  • Huawei’s Digital and Intelligent Platform for Airports based on cloud, data, and AI makes airport operations smarter, more efficient, and more secure.
    • Cloud: Core services are migrated to the cloud for active-active deployment, ensuring zero data losses. The recovery time is shortened from 1 hour to just 5 minutes, meeting the 99.99% availability requirement.
    • Data: The platform builds a comprehensive data governance system alongside a robust data foundation to deliver high-quality data for intelligent applications.
    • AI: Huawei provides advanced AI capabilities and supports open and compatible mainstream models and engines.
  • Huawei’s Xinghe Intelligent Airport Integrated Data Network Solution builds a high-quality and highly reliable communications network. Wi-Fi 7 enhances the passenger experience and boosts bandwidth for VIP passengers by 20% through its VIP assurance technology. Huawei’s exclusive Wi-Fi Shield adopts noise superposition to prevent data from being stolen during air interface transmission and protect data.
  • Huawei’s Smart Airport Fully Connected All-Optical Network utilizes IP and Passive Optical LAN (POL). It introduces the first 10G M45 panel-type Optical Network Unit (ONU) — the OptiXstar P892M — for airports, which supports multiple installation modes such as tabletop, wall embedding, and floor cylinder.


To date, more than 210 airports, airlines, and air traffic management authorities the world over have chosen Huawei.

 

2025 Chengdu International Friendship Cities Cooperation and Development Forum Kicks Off in Chengdu


CHENGDU, CHINA – Media OutReach Newswire – 17 April 2025 – On April 16, the “2025 Chengdu International Friendship Cities Cooperation and Development Forum”, hosted by the Chengdu Municipal People’s Government and organized by the Foreign Affairs Office of the Chengdu Municipal People’s Government, officially kicked off in Chengdu.

2025 Chengdu International Friendship Cities Cooperation and Development Forum

This conference was themed on “Hand in Hand, Sharing and Winning Together”. Major activities included the opening ceremony, mayor’s roundtable, thematic promotion sessions, thematic inspections, as well as multiple bilateral meetings and relevant side events.

To deepen cooperation between Chengdu and the five Central Asian countries in areas such as trade, investment, infrastructure, and culture, Chengdu has established the Central Asia Economic and Trade Promotion Association, which will hold its unveiling ceremony during the conference.

Mr. Dewit, Chairman of the Belgian-Chinese Chamber of Commerce, believed that Chengdu serves as an important gateway for Belgium to access markets in Western and Central China. He remarked: “Chengdu and Belgium have a solid foundation in the pharmaceutical and technology sectors. Sichuan Airlines has opened a number of cargo flights to Belgium, and it is expected to usher in direct passenger flights in the future. In the field of education, universities in the two places should establish closer ties to promote students’ exchanges.”

As a hub for international exchanges in western China, Chengdu has built a network of 241 “international friendship cities” since it established its first sister-city relationship with Montpellier, France, in 1981. These sister cities have not only facilitated diverse cultural exchanges and interactions with Chengdu, but also injected new vitality into Chengdu’s economic development, technological innovation, educational cooperation and other fields.

As one of the best epitomes of the ongoing deepening exchanges and cooperation between Chengdu and the EU, the “2025 Chengdu * European Cultural Season” and the “European Style Street” series of events, organized by the EU Delegation in China, were also held on April 12 in the Chengdu Eastern Suburb Memory Park.

Since its inception in 2017, the “Chengdu * European Cultural Season” has been successfully hosted eight times, forging a bridge of friendship that enhances mutual understanding and cultural exchange between the people of Chengdu and Europe.

In recent years, exchanges and cooperation between Chengdu and EU countries have been continuously deepening. Currently, Chengdu has established international friendship and cooperative relations with 31 cities in EU member states, and there are 11 cargo and passenger routes between Chengdu and the EU. In 2024, Chengdu’s import and export volume to the EU reached 142.16 billion yuan.

In February 2025, the signing ceremony of memorandum of friendship and cooperation between Asti, Italy and Tianfu New District, Sichuan, was held in Chengdu. Maurizio Rasero, Governor of Asti Province and Mayor of Asti, Italy, stated that as an important historical and cultural city in Italy and a hub for the wine industry and machinery manufacturing, Asti has vast potential for cooperation with Chengdu in industrial development and scientific and technological innovation.

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

Fliggy Launches AI Travel Assistant “AskMe” to Make Customized Travel Even More Accessible

Powered by a multi-agent system to offer precise, real-time trip planning

HANGZHOU, China, April 17, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Fliggy, a leading online travel services platform and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Alibaba Group (NYSE: BABA and HKEX: 9988), today unveiled “AskMe”, an AI travel assistant powered by multiple intelligent agents. Designed to emulate the problem-solving and task-execution capabilities of professional travel consultants, AskMe leverages Fliggy’s proprietary data, including flights, hotels, attractions, and curated experiences, to generate actionable and personalized travel itineraries.

Integrated with Alibaba’s Qwen AI models, AskMe employs a multi-agent collaboration system to accurately identify and process complex travel requests. Functioning as a 24/7 AI-powered travel consultant, it autonomously breaks down tasks, plans workflows, and deploys specialized sub-agents to deliver real-time, bookable itineraries.

Miranda Liu, Head of AI Product at Fliggy, said: “Travel is inherently personal, yet planning often involves overwhelming choices across flights, hotels, tickets, ground transportation, and activities, leading to decision fatigue. While bespoke travel services remain costly, Fliggy has amassed a vast amount of data on products, destinations, experiences and user reviews. This data, coupled with our proprietary expertise in supply chains and services, is essential for training AI. By applying the strengths of AI, we’re turning what was previously perceived as a luxury service into something every traveler can experience.”

One assistant, multiple experts

Users simply input their requests and AskMe instantly analyzes their needs and activates specialized AI experts accordingly. These experts scour Fliggy’s live pricing engine for flights, hotels, routes, and attractions, then compile and cost-optimize a coherent plan, including round-trip tickets, daily hotel stays, sightseeing routes, and dining recommendations, with direct booking links.

AskMe also allows real-time edits. Its budget-adjustment feature lets users tweak spending preferences with one click, triggering an instant regeneration of the itinerary.

Multimodal interaction and shareable outputs

Aside from text input, AskMe also supports voice commands (including different dialects) and delivers visually rich itineraries complete with images, product information, and interactive maps instead of returning just plain text. Users can even generate hand-drawn travel guides for social media sharing.

High-quality travel data as key differentiator

A key differentiator of AskMe lies in its superior data quality. The AI assistant is trained using Fliggy’s proprietary, high-quality travel scenario datasets and integrated with the platform’s real-time pricing engine, which includes live flight and hotel prices, inventory status, travel routes, attractions, and a full range of other travel services. This data ecosystem ensures users receive the most accurate and up-to-date travel information alongside fully bookable options.

In evaluations across five critical dimensions—accuracy, coherence, richness, utility, and customization—AskMe has demonstrated exceptional performance, particularly in the accuracy and coherence metrics. Fliggy is developing additional features to AskMe for future release.

“Our team meticulously studied human travel consultants’ workflows, embedding their expertise into AskMe’s analysis, execution, and decision-making nodes. We’ll continue to refine its industry knowledge for deeper, more empathetic customization while making interactions even smarter. Ultimately, we aim to provide our users with an AI that offers a human touchone that helps them effortlessly craft their perfect trip,” added Liu.

AskMe is currently available to Fliggy F5 members and above, with access granted via invite codes from existing users.

About Fliggy

Fliggy is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Alibaba Group (NYSE: BABA and HKEX: 9988 (HKD Counter) and 89988 (RMB Counter)), and is one of the leading online travel platforms in China. Fliggy places a strong emphasis on innovation in its products and services, catering to the increasingly personalized and diversified needs of consumers in both China and overseas markets.

Leveraging Fliggy’s advantage as part of the Alibaba ecosystem, merchants can benefit from the vast user base within the Group. Fliggy also collaborates with partners through a full-service management format, helping more merchants, especially small and medium-sized ones, easily and efficiently share opportunities enabled by digitalization.

Fliggy’s long-term strategy is to promote the digital transformation of the tourism industry, using an open platform and mechanisms to help the industry make better use of digital business infrastructure for their operations.

Central government backs HK as digital hub

BEIJING, April 17, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — A news report from chinadaily.com.cn:

The Main Forum on the Digital Intelligence Future at the 2025 World Internet Conference Asia-Pacific Summit was held in Hong Kong on April 14. [Photo/wicinternet.org]
The Main Forum on the Digital Intelligence Future at the 2025 World Internet Conference Asia-Pacific Summit was held in Hong Kong on April 14. [Photo/wicinternet.org]

The central government has pledged full support for Hong Kong’s deeper integration into the global digital landscape, vowing to help the city seize emerging opportunities in the booming digital economy.

Officials and experts made the remarks at the World Internet Conference on Monday. For the first time, the annual event launched its Asia-Pacific summit outside the Chinese mainland, placing artificial intelligence and digital technologies at center stage.

Wang Yong, vice-chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, said digital integration is now a key force driving productivity reform and sustainable regional development.

He outlined China’s stance on digital governance, stating, “China promotes the joint building of a fair and just cyberspace and governance system with various countries. We advocate respect for each country’s network sovereignty and management models, while rejecting zero-sum games and technological bullying.”

Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu described the summit as “a testament to Hong Kong’s rising role as an international innovation and technology hub”, and said it also reflects “our deep integration with our country’s national development”.

Lee emphasized the importance of international cooperation “especially during these challenging times to geopolitics and trade relations”, reaffirming that “Hong Kong champions free trade and multilateralism.”

Hong Kong welcomes all business interests from those who are keen to pursue developments with us in this global city,” he said.

Zhuang Rongwen, head of the Cyberspace Administration of China, said breakthroughs in new technologies such as AI are having far-reaching impacts on economic growth, social progress and the global political and economic landscape.

“Chinese research institutions and technology companies continue to introduce innovative achievements such as large language models, bringing strong momentum to the development of China, the Asia-Pacific region and the world,” he said. “This also provides opportunities for building a community with a shared future in cyberspace.”

Zheng Yanxiong, director of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, called Hong Kong a “pioneer region in internet development” with long-standing strengths in finance, shipping and trade, and emerging advantages in AI research, innovation and talent.

He cited Hong Kong’s institutional innovation, bilingual capabilities, cultural openness and international connectivity as unique strengths, and urged the city to take a leading role in Asia-Pacific digital integration.

“We must accelerate the construction of the Northern Metropolis, relying on Hong Kong Science Park and Cyberport, and join forces with major cooperation platforms such as the Qianhai Shenzhen-Hong Kong Modern Service Industry Cooperation Zone, the Lok Ma Chau Loop, and Guangzhou’s Nansha District,” Zheng said.

He said such efforts would attract enterprises in the digital integration field and form industrial clusters spanning artificial intelligence, big data, cloud computing and blockchain.

Zheng also emphasized leveraging the “one country, two systems” framework to build cross-border data flow mechanisms aligned with international rules, promoting secure and orderly data circulation and resource sharing.

Nearly 1,000 delegates attended the two-day event, representing government agencies, businesses, international organizations and academia from about 30 countries and regions.

Zhang Donggang, Party secretary of the Renmin University of China, underlined the importance of talent development in the digital sector.

“The high-quality development of digital finance depends on a cohort of high-caliber, versatile professionals who understand both finance and technology,” he said.

“Only with a large number of outstanding financial talents who possess vision, responsibility and passion can we truly advance digital inclusive financial innovation and achieve sustainable development with inclusive coverage.”

On the sidelines of the conference, John Hoffman, CEO of GSMA Ltd, noted that on a global scale, artificial intelligence is emerging as a powerful force with the potential to transform businesses and society in unprecedented ways.

Over the next 10-20 years, McKinsey, a global management consulting firm, estimates that AI could bring up to $680 billion in benefits to the telecommunications industry, he said. Hoffman said the company is at the forefront of adopting AI and hopes to drive more value by empowering consumers and businesses through artificial intelligence.