The Zhitong Finance App learned that on July 10, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology held the “Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) 2026 Digital and Artificial Intelligence Ministerial Meeting and Press Briefing on Digital Week Related Activities”. Vice Minister of Industry and Information Technology Xiong Jijun explained that the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, under the guidance of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, will host the Digital and Artificial Intelligence Ministerial Conference and Digital Week related events from July 16 to 24 in Chengdu, Sichuan. This is an important platform for promoting exchanges and cooperation in the field of digital and artificial intelligence in the Asia-Pacific region.
The original text is as follows:
The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology held the “Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) 2026 Digital and Artificial Intelligence Ministerial Meeting and Press Briefing on Digital Week Related Activities”
On July 10, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology held the “Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) 2026 Digital and Artificial Intelligence Ministerial Meeting and Press Briefing on Digital Week Related Activities”. Xiong Jijun, Vice Minister of Industry and Information Technology; Cheng Lie, senior APEC official and Counsellor of the International Economics Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Zhang Xiaolei, Deputy Director of the International Data Governance Cooperation Department of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology; Song Xianrong, Director of the International Data Governance Cooperation Department of the National Data Administration; Yang Xin, Deputy Secretary General of the Sichuan Provincial People's Government; and Xu Xingguo, Deputy Mayor of the Chengdu Municipal People's Government, attended the press briefing to explain the situation and answer questions from reporters. The press briefing was presided over by Gong Xian, press spokesperson of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and deputy director of the General Office.
Gong Xian
Dear journalists,
Good morning everyone. Welcome to today's press briefing.
The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Digital and Artificial Intelligence Ministerial Meeting and high-level events related to “Digital Week” will be held in Chengdu, Sichuan. The series of events will showcase China's development achievements in the field of artificial intelligence and digital economy, cultivate new highlights of Asia-Pacific cooperation, and contribute to the November APEC Informal Leaders' Meeting.
Today, we are very happy to invite Mr. Xiong Jijun, Vice Minister of Industry and Information Technology, to brief everyone on the relevant situation of the conference and answer everyone's concerns. Also attending today's briefing were Mr. Cheng Lie, senior APEC official and Counsellor of the International Economics Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Ms. Zhang Xiaolei, Deputy Director of the International Cooperation Department of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology; Ms. Song Xianrong, Director of the International Data Governance Cooperation Department of the National Data Administration; Ms. Yang Xin, Deputy Secretary General and General Director of the Sichuan Provincial People's Government; and Mr. Xu Xingguo, Deputy Mayor of the Chengdu Municipal People's Government. I am the host of this press briefing, Gong Xian, press spokesman for the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology.
Next, let me first ask Vice Minister Xiong Jijun to give an introduction.
Xiong Jijun
Vice Minister of Industry and Information Technology Xiong Jijun
Good morning, ladies and gentlemen, friends of the press! Thank you for your attention and support for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) 2026 Digital and Artificial Intelligence Ministerial Meeting and Digital Week related events.
APEC is the highest-level, broadest range of fields, and most influential economic cooperation mechanism in the Asia-Pacific region. Since its establishment more than 30 years ago, thanks to the joint efforts of various economies, APEC has consolidated regional development efforts, promoted trade and investment liberalization and facilitation, raised the level of regional economic integration, led the Asia-Pacific region at the forefront of global open development, and promoted the Asia-Pacific region to become the main growth engine of the world economy.
This year, after 2001 and 2014, China is hosting APEC for the third time after a lapse of 12 years. It will host 11 professional ministerial meetings and a series of events throughout the year. The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, under the guidance of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, will host the Digital and Artificial Intelligence Ministerial Conference and Digital Week related events from July 16 to 24 in Chengdu, Sichuan. This is an important platform for promoting exchanges and cooperation in the field of digital and artificial intelligence in the Asia-Pacific region.
The Digital and Artificial Intelligence Ministerial Conference is the second time that China has hosted the Telecom Ministerial Conference in 2002 after a lapse of 24 years. The Telecommunication Ministers Meeting is the highest-level ministerial dialogue mechanism to coordinate policy coordination and practical cooperation in the telecommunications, information and communication technology and digital fields in the Asia-Pacific region under the APEC framework. In recent years, from telecommunication technology to information and communication technology, to digital technology, new technologies have evolved rapidly. Various economies have actively embraced digital technology, including artificial intelligence. Since last year, the Telecom Ministers Meeting focused on digital and artificial intelligence, and began hosting the APEC Digital and Artificial Intelligence Ministerial Conference.
Currently, a new round of technological revolution and industrial transformation is accelerating breakthroughs. Digital technology represented by artificial intelligence is profoundly reshaping the global development pattern, profoundly changing human production and lifestyle, and creating new opportunities for the sustainable development of the Asia-Pacific region. In November of last year, President Xi Jinping attended the 32nd APEC Informal Leaders' Meeting in Gyeongju, South Korea, and delivered an important speech saying that China is willing to use the host as an opportunity to join hands with all parties to build an Asia-Pacific community, focus on promoting practical cooperation in the Asia-Pacific free trade area, connectivity, digital economy, artificial intelligence, etc., to inject more vitality and impetus into the development of the Asia-Pacific region and benefit the people of the Asia-Pacific region. This points out the direction for us to deepen digital and artificial intelligence cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region.
With the theme of “Digital and Artificial Intelligence Technology Empowering the Asia-Pacific Community,” this year's Digital and Artificial Intelligence Ministerial Conference will invite relevant ministers from APEC economies to gather in Chengdu to have in-depth exchanges on topics such as “strengthening digital and artificial intelligence to empower development,” “promoting universal and meaningful digital connectivity,” and “supporting digital inclusion and digital skill improvement.” Prior to the Ministerial Meeting, the 73rd APEC Telecommunication Working Group Meeting will be held from July 16 to 22, the Digital and Artificial Intelligence Ministerial Meeting on the 23rd, and the APEC High-Level Dialogue on Digital Intelligence Empowerment will be held on the morning of the 24th. Afterwards, the State Internet Information Office and the National Data Administration will also host other events related to Digital Week.
In order to organize this digital and artificial intelligence ministerial conference, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, together with Sichuan Province and Chengdu, actively promoted relevant preparations in the early stages. Currently, preparations for various aspects such as inviting participants, discussing topics, conference services, press promotion, and safety and security have basically been completed.
We are ready to work with all parties to make this Digital and Artificial Intelligence Ministerial Meeting and Digital Week related events to share policy ideas and practical experiences with all economies, promote practical cooperation in the field of digital and artificial intelligence in the Asia-Pacific region, lead a grand event of openness, inclusiveness, and win-win cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region, and inject strong digital momentum into building an open, dynamic, strong and peaceful Asia-Pacific community.
Let me first give a brief overview of these situations. Next, my colleagues and I are happy to answer questions from our journalists and friends. Thank you all.
Answer to reporters' questions
Xinhua News Agency
I just introduced that the theme of this Digital and Artificial Intelligence Ministerial Conference is “Digital and Artificial Intelligence Technology Empowers the Asia-Pacific Community”. What are the considerations of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology?
Xiong Jijun
Thank you for your question. Currently, global digital transformation is evolving at an accelerated pace, and digital technology, including artificial intelligence, is leading a new round of technological revolution and industrial transformation, profoundly reshaping the economic and social development pattern of the Asia-Pacific region. The Asia-Pacific region is an important engine of global economic growth. APEC member economies should work together to seize opportunities for digital and artificial intelligence development and jointly carry out practical cooperation on digital empowerment.
Since the establishment of APEC in 1989, telecommunications and information and communication technology have continued to evolve iteratively, digital and artificial intelligence technology changes rapidly, and new applications of new technologies and new business formats have sprung up at an accelerated pace. Although digital and artificial intelligence technology faces certain security challenges, its huge potential to empower economic and social development is becoming more and more prominent. The APEC Telecom Working Group has a long history and excellent tradition of cooperation. Since its establishment, it has continued to promote connectivity, policy and standard collaboration, digital inclusion and inclusiveness in the Asia-Pacific region, and continuously narrowing the digital divide. It has always been an important pillar of digital cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region. Facing the development trend of digital and artificial intelligence, the Telecommunication Working Group should keep pace with the times, focus on improving and empowering digital and artificial intelligence technology, forge consensus, and develop together.
To this end, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology used the 2026 Digital and Artificial Intelligence Ministerial Meeting as an opportunity to echo the strategic goals of the “APEC Putrajaya Vision 2040” and the “Aoteoloa Action Plan”, implement the 2025 APEC Internet and Digital Economy Roadmap, implement the 2025 APEC Leaders' Consensus on “Helping Regional Digital and Artificial Intelligence Transformation”, adhere to application scenarios as the guide and aim to enable development. The theme of the 2026 APEC Digital and Artificial Intelligence Ministerial Meeting was “Empowering Digital and Artificial Intelligence Technology The “Asia-Pacific Community” focuses on the application of digital and artificial intelligence, continues to promote technology for the better, and strives to work with all parties to deepen policy coordination, capacity building and practical cooperation in the field of digital and artificial intelligence in the Asia-Pacific region, and inject more vitality into the development of the Asia-Pacific region.
The 2026 Digital and Artificial Intelligence Ministerial Meeting reflects the APEC China Year's theme of “Building the Asia-Pacific Community and Promoting Common Prosperity” and the priority areas of “openness, innovation, and cooperation”. It will focus on the APEC Telecom Working Group's areas of responsibility, strategic actions, and work goals, and use projects as a starting point to promote digital and artificial intelligence technology to empower all industries and promote social development in APEC member economies. Thank you.
China Central Radio and Television Financial Program Center
I just mentioned that the 2026 APEC Digital Week event will be held. Can you further explain the overall considerations and related arrangements for the Digital Week?
Cheng Lie
Cheng Lie, senior Chinese official from APEC and counselor of the Department of International Economics of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Thank you for your question. Dear media friends, as the new round of technological revolution accelerates, digital technology such as artificial intelligence has become a key factor in boosting new levels of productivity and achieving innovative growth. All Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) member economies are paying close attention to this. In order to further forge consensus on cooperation among all parties and cultivate future cooperation highlights, from July 16 to 29, China, as the host of APEC in 2026, will host the APEC Digital Week event in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, the city of innovation and creativity in western China. It will host a number of high-level meetings including the APEC Ministerial Meeting on Digital and Artificial Intelligence, the High-Level Dialogue on Digital Intelligence Empowerment, and the High-Level Roundtable on Data for Growth, as well as APEC related working group meetings, seminars, and field visits. About 400-500 participants from APEC member economies and secretariats, business advisory councils, observers and other sectors are expected to attend the event.
With the theme of “Building the Asia-Pacific Community and Promoting Common Prosperity”, APEC's “Chinese Year” focuses on the three priority areas of “openness, innovation, and cooperation.” Digital Week is an important initiative under “Innovation” in the three priority areas. It is one of the heaviest and richest events in the APEC series of professional ministerial meetings hosted by China. It is also a major feature of the “China Year” conference. I believe it will be an important platform for all parties to thoroughly discuss cutting-edge topics such as digital intelligence empowering thousands of industries, inclusive development of artificial intelligence, and innovation cooperation in the data field. It will also be an opportunity for all parties to experience firsthand the achievements of China's scientific and technological innovation and new quality productivity development. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been actively supporting the host departments as well as Sichuan Province and Chengdu in advancing preparations for the conference.
We believe that with the joint efforts of all parties, this Digital Week will be another successful event in the APEC “China Year”, making positive contributions to promoting cooperation in the digital economy and artificial intelligence in the Asia-Pacific region, achieving innovative growth, and jointly building the Asia-Pacific community. All media friends are welcome to follow the report closely. Thank you.
Hong Kong Grand Duke Wenhui Media Group
This time, APEC Digital Week innovatively set up a series of activities in the field of data. What are the main contents of the relevant activities? What are the expected results?
Song Xianrong
Song Xianrong, Director of the International Data Governance Cooperation Department of the National Data Administration
Thank you for your question. As an important part of APEC Digital Week 2026, a series of events in the data field will be held from July 25 to 29, focusing on the theme of “Data for Growth”, with 2 conference events and 4 themed visits. On the morning of July 25, an APEC High-Level Roundtable on Data for Growth will be held, mainly for APEC economy ministers and representatives of international organizations to hold data policy dialogues; the afternoon symposium will focus on the topic of data and artificial intelligence empowering the development of industries under the APEC framework, and representatives from various fields such as governments, enterprises, scientific research institutions, and think tanks will have open discussions. From July 26 to 29, it was a visit on topics such as data-enabled healthcare, animation culture and creativity, smart cities, and artificial intelligence applications.
Judging from current registrations and feedback from various parties, the government, industry, academia, and research communities in various economies are paying close attention to the topic of “data for growth”. More than 200 foreign registered guests, and nearly 100 Chinese and foreign companies signed up for the symposium, including nearly 50 of the world's top 500, well-known multinational companies, and enterprises representing data and artificial intelligence.
This series of activities is expected to achieve three results.
First, share the practical results of building a digital China and developing and utilizing data. Through various forms such as policy sharing, case exchanges, and on-site visits, China's cutting-edge exploration and practical experience in data infrastructure construction, data infrastructure layout construction, data development and utilization, scenario application implementation, and data elements to enable artificial intelligence innovation and development were fully demonstrated to APEC economies to promote mutual learning and reference.
Second, expand the depth and breadth of APEC data cooperation. Currently, APEC has carried out fruitful cooperation in the field of data, focusing on data privacy protection and cross-border data flow. This series of activities will further enrich the concept of “data for growth”, promote economies to pay more attention to new cooperation directions such as data value release, data empowering economic growth, and modulus resonance innovation, and promote broader and practical exchanges and cooperation among economies on data capacity building, traditional industry upgrading, and experience case sharing.
Third, strengthen the results of more cooperation among APEC economies. Through field visits and on-site exchanges, data cooperation and mutual trust between economies are enhanced, and a cooperative atmosphere of discussion, joint construction and sharing is created. Build an exchange and docking platform for enterprises, institutions, etc., and promote the efficient transformation of cooperation intentions into implementation results. With effective industrial policy practices, vivid cases, and figurative scenarios, we aim to make participants move forward with their confusions and problems, and with solutions. Thank you.
Phoenix TV
This ministerial meeting focuses on digital and artificial intelligence. What are the highlights of the conference worth looking forward to? What topics in the digital and artificial intelligence fields will the economies discuss at the conference?
Xiong Jijun
Thank you for your question. Thanks to the joint efforts and careful preparation of all parties in the early stages, the various arrangements for the conference have basically been put in place. Overall, there are three main highlights of this ministerial meeting:
The first is to build a multi-format communication platform, and all sectors respond positively and participate widely. On the basis of closed-door government discussions, the conference simultaneously supported a series of events such as high-level dialogues on digital intelligence empowerment, project seminars, etc., and set up a special exhibition area on digital intelligence empowerment to build a platform for in-depth exchanges of government, industry, academia, research and use among Asia-Pacific economies and a vehicle for practical cooperation. Since the invitation was issued, it has received a positive response, attracting more than 30 well-known domestic and foreign companies, including Meta, Google, Microsoft, Panasonic, Tencent, ZTE, Baidu, and autonomous variable robots, to sign up for the exhibition.
The second is to set up hot topics from multiple perspectives and fully exchange policies and practices. During the conference, economies will conduct in-depth discussions and share relevant policy initiatives and best practices from various perspectives such as digital transformation in the telecommunications sector, social benefits of broadband connectivity, ICT resilience, internet adaptability, and SME artificial intelligence transformation, anti-cyber fraud, secure online space, and artificial intelligence security. The Chinese side will also release the “Asia-Pacific Digital Intelligence Empowerment Case Collection” at the high-level dialogue to exchange practices and experiences in empowering thousands of industries and people's livelihood and welfare with digital and AI technology.
The third is to forge consensus among all parties in various fields and actively promote common action guidelines. The conference will have an in-depth exchange of views on key areas such as digital connectivity, digital intelligence empowerment, digital inclusion, digital security, and digital ecology, clarify APEC's key efforts in the digital field, and provide forward-looking and operable direction guidelines for digital and artificial intelligence cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region. The “APEC Telecommunication Working Group Strategic Action Plan (2026-2030)” will also be discussed simultaneously during the meeting to further forge consensus among all parties and clarify cooperation goals and priority areas.
At this ministerial meeting, various economies will have in-depth discussions on three topics. The first is to strengthen the enabling development of digital and artificial intelligence technology, unleash the empowering potential of digital and artificial intelligence technology in the fields of medical care, education, transportation, agriculture, industry, culture, etc., so that the achievements of artificial intelligence can be shared comprehensively. The second is to promote universal and meaningful digital connectivity, build a fast, reliable, ubiquitous, affordable, and resilient digital and information communication infrastructure, and provide a solid foundation for the development of digital and artificial intelligence. The third is to support digital inclusion and digital skill improvement, bridge the digital divide and the smart divide, and allow everyone to share the achievements of artificial intelligence knowledge and digital dividends.
China is ready to work with APEC economies to uphold the concept of joint discussion, joint construction and sharing, and use this meeting as an opportunity to forge broad consensus, deepen practical cooperation, and jointly push Asia-Pacific digital and artificial intelligence cooperation to a new level. Thank you.
People's Daily News
We have learned that during this APEC Ministerial Meeting, relevant ministers from various economies will fully exchange views on the development and empowerment of artificial intelligence. What results has Sichuan achieved so far in promoting artificial intelligence to empower new industrialization? Also, how will this conference and event be used as an opportunity to further deepen related work?
Yang Xin
Yang Xin, Deputy Secretary General of the Sichuan Provincial People's Government and Director of the General Office
Thank you for your question. Sichuan is a major economic province and a major industrial province. In 2025, the industrial value added was 1.84 trillion yuan, ranking 7th in the country. Artificial intelligence has a good foundation and broad prospects for empowering new industrialization. In recent years, the Sichuan Provincial Committee and Provincial Government have thoroughly implemented General Secretary Xi Jinping's important remarks on the development of new industrialization and artificial intelligence, and the spirit of the Sichuan Work Series, using “Artificial Intelligence +” as the No. 1 innovation project, highlighting enabling new industrialization, introducing action plans and formulating policy measures, continuously strengthening scientific and technological research and innovation, product iterative upgrading, scenario application guidance, governance mechanism construction, and industrial ecology construction, and promoting industrial quality and efficiency through intelligent industrialization and industrial intelligence. Below, I'll give a brief introduction from three aspects:
The first is to strengthen industrial supply. The integration of artificial intelligence into the province's “15+N” key industrial chain was strongly promoted, with Chengdu and Mianyang as the main carriers, and other cities (states) as places for collaborative development to accelerate the construction of a strong chain and cultivate more than 1,900 artificial intelligence enterprises. Last year, the revenue of the artificial intelligence industry in the province exceeded 190 billion yuan, and is expected to exceed 100 billion yuan in the first half of this year. Give full play to the advantages of gathering scientific and educational resources, push enterprises to take the lead in forming innovative consortia, carry out breakthroughs in more than 70 key core technologies such as smart joint module development and heavy-duty high-precision traction robots, driving double-digit growth in value added in high-tech manufacturing industries such as brain-computer interfaces and industrial metaverse. Original achievements such as gallium nitride quantum light source chips, space computing power constellations, and spatial intelligence world models continue to emerge.
The second is to promote enabling applications. Promoting the deep integration of artificial intelligence with R&D and design, manufacturing, marketing services, operation management, etc., 18 scenarios, including full-chain collaborative smart applications for key components of high-end energy equipment, integrated application of AI visual intelligent manufacturing and intelligent tuning in discrete manufacturing, and intelligent optical inspection applications throughout the MiniLED module process were selected as typical national artificial intelligence application cases being publicized by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology. Manufacturing, inspection, and logistics robots have been widely used in industrial enterprises. Accelerate the cultivation of empowering application service providers. Relying on platforms such as Changhong and Jiuzhou, and the Sichuan Digital Intelligence Green Transformation Promotion Center, 38 industrial vertical models and industrial intelligence cultivation projects were selected and released, and a total of 3 years of “intelligent transformation and digital transformation” actions were implemented to cultivate 1 pilot smart factory, 4 global “lighthouse factories”, 6 national digital pilot enterprises, and 20 excellent smart factories.
The third is to improve the industrial ecology. Based on the abundant advantages of clean energy sources such as water, wind, and light in Sichuan, we will vigorously promote the integration of computing and electricity, accelerate the construction of the “East Digital and Western Computing” national computing power hub node and computing power interconnection platform, and build and put into use the National Supercomputing Center in Chengdu and the Chengdu Intelligent Computing Center. The province can use 48 eFlops of computing power, and accelerate the construction of high-quality data sets to enable new industrialization. The layout built the “Zhuge Space” industrial ecological demonstration zone, a large model and robot training ground in Sichuan Province, and was approved for 2 national robot industry clusters. Integrate the superior resources of universities, enterprises, and institutions to establish the Sichuan Artificial Intelligence Institute to develop AI talents in an all-round and full-chain manner. “One industry, one policy” supports large-scale application of artificial intelligence and continuously promotes efficient collaboration between technology supply, scenario requirements, industrial capital and professional services. Promote Chengdu to speed up the construction of a national pilot zone for artificial intelligence innovation and application, build an artificial intelligence strategy source and industrial highland, and drive the whole province to accelerate the new industrialization of artificial intelligence enabled.
In the next step, we will rely on the APEC Digital and Artificial Intelligence Ministerial Meeting and the opportunities of the Digital Week series to actively learn and draw on cutting-edge ideas and advanced experiences in the field of artificial intelligence empowering industries in various economies, strengthen open cooperation, earnestly implement “artificial intelligence +” and “artificial intelligence+ manufacturing” deployment requirements, adhere to innovation-driven, scenario-driven, and ecological co-construction, vigorously promote the intelligent development of all elements of the industry, and accelerate the transformation and upgrading of traditional industries and the cultivation and growth of emerging industries and future industries.
The first is to strengthen scientific and technological innovation in intelligent technology, normalize the two-way launch of “results seek markets, enterprises find technology”, make every effort to break through key core technologies such as intelligent industrial software and high-performance computing power chips, promote the construction of intelligent innovation platforms, and accelerate the construction of a full-chain independent innovation system.
The second is to promote the development and upgrading of intelligent products, promote innovative development and iterative updates of smart terminals and intelligent equipment, cultivate key products such as advanced computing and storage, intelligent sensors, high-end CNC machine tools, and industrial robots, and consolidate the foundation of industrial intelligence.
The third is to promote the application of artificial intelligence enabling scenarios, release lightweight artificial intelligence transformation plans by industry, actively open up more than 20 application scenarios to society and enterprises every year, accelerate the implementation of large vertical models, create typical intelligent application scenarios, cultivate smart factories in a gradient, and raise the level of park intelligence.
Fourth, establish an intelligent industry governance mechanism, improve supervision and governance standards, promote the construction of a standardized system, carry out an ethical review of artificial intelligence technology, encourage trial first, and tolerate failure.
The fifth is to build a good industrial ecosystem, increase enterprise cultivation efforts, strengthen the supply of high-quality computing power and data, operate artificial intelligence industry funds in a market-based manner, systematically promote artificial intelligence talent training, and optimize the AI industry development environment in all aspects.
In 13 days, the APEC Digital and Artificial Intelligence Ministerial Meeting will be held in Chengdu, Sichuan. We will do a solid job in all preparations, carefully display the “good enterprises” and “good things” of Sichuan, so that the participants can experience the thousand aspects of Chinese modernization in the beautiful country of Tianfu! Thank you.
21st Century Economic Report
May I ask how Chengdu is preparing for the 2026 APEC Digital and Artificial Intelligence Ministerial Meeting and other digital week events to be held in Chengdu? We learned that there were also exciting city-side events at the same time as the conference, so please tell us about the relevant situation.
Xu Xingguo
Xu Xingguo, Deputy Mayor of Chengdu Municipal People's Government
Thank you for your question. Digital Week events such as the 2026 APEC Digital and Artificial Intelligence Ministerial Meeting landed in Chengdu. This is not only an honorable mission given to Chengdu by the country, but also an important window for Chengdu to showcase its innovative vitality. We adhere to international standards and equal emphasis on the charm of Tianfu, focus on the three dimensions of urban service, Tianfu culture, and digital industry, and implement the requirements for hosting the conference. At present, all preparations have been basically completed.
The first is to insist on excellence and provide thoughtful urban services. We refined the venue layout, optimized functional zoning, carried out full-factor stress tests and closed-loop presentations, and made every effort to ensure the successful holding of the conference. Do a good job of concierge reception, and be well equipped with delegation liaisons and youth volunteers to achieve personal connection, full follow-up, and accurate response. Strictly follow conference standards and implement detailed service guarantees for accommodation, catering, transportation, etc., so that participants can fully experience the refined and warm services of Chengdu.
The second is to dig deeper into Tianfu's heritage and create a unique urban experience. We carefully selected more than 300 kinds of “Tianfu goodies”, such as Shu Jinshu embroidery and Sichuan wine and Sichuan tea, and displayed intangible heritage techniques such as bamboo weaving, paper-cutting, and Facebook on site, fully showcasing the unique charm of Tianfu culture. Deeply integrating panda ecological resources, the thousand-year-old Shu civilization, Shijing fireworks culture, and modern urban business districts, and carefully planned 6 city visit routes, so that the participants could experience the three-dimensional atmosphere of Chinese-style modernization in Chengdu.
The third is to show the results of building a strong manufacturing city based on development advantages. We have set up themed exhibition areas in the core area, focusing on the digital and artificial intelligence fields and the upstream and downstream industrial chains, and selecting representative enterprises with industry influence and innovation. The business format spans segments such as optical communication, robotics, advanced computing power, quantum technology, digital culture and creativity, fully demonstrating the comprehensive strength and innovative vitality of the digital economy industry in Chengdu.
Currently, Chengdu is making every effort to build a new highland for the development of the digital and artificial intelligence industry in western China. In order to further amplify the comprehensive effect, we focused on hosting 9 city-side events, including the 2026 Asia-Pacific Digital Partnership Dialogue, the “Investment in Chengdu” Global Investment Conference, the Field Exchange Meeting on Promoting New Industrialization, and the Space Computing Industry Ecology Conference, with “Scenario Empowerment and Digital Intelligence Integration” as the main line to achieve the deep integration of “hosting a conference” and “developing a business”. There were three main highlights of the event.
The first is to take advantage of “home field diplomacy” to allow “traffic” to land. Deeply undertaking the spillover effects of APEC Digital Week and efficiently linking high-quality industries, capital, technology, and talent elements in the Asia-Pacific region and the world, not only invited participants to “walk in”, but also promoted the transformation of conference traffic into a real increase in investment, creating a highlight moment belonging to Chengdu.
The second is to set up a “matchmaking platform” and let the “enterprise” play the leading role. The event changed the traditional model of hosting meetings, innovatively launched the “enterprise leadership, think tank empowerment, and government-enterprise collaboration” model, handing over the stage to chain owners and innovators, promoting accurate connections between upstream and downstream, left and right, and focusing on building an industrial ecosystem of symbiosis and co-prosperity.
The third is to highlight “real-world experience” and make “technology” perceptible. Plan and carry out a series of digital cultural and creative experience activities to carry out “Made in Chengdu” digital intelligence products throughout the entire process, so that participants can immerse themselves in the experience, touch the cutting-edge pulse of digital intelligence technology, and experience the vivid practice of empowering digital intelligence.
In Chengdu in July, the temperature of fireworks is on the planet, and there is also a sharp rise in popularity. We warmly look forward to all guests and friends from all walks of life meeting in Rongcheng to join the Asia-Pacific Digital Convention and create a new future for artificial intelligence!
China Daily
In recent years, the digital and artificial intelligence industry has developed rapidly, becoming an important opportunity to boost productivity in the Asia-Pacific region. How will this Digital and Artificial Intelligence Ministerial Conference help the development of regional digital cooperation?
Zhang Xiaolei
Zhang Xiaolei, Deputy Director of the International Cooperation Department of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology
Thank you for your question. Indeed, as you said, the digital and artificial intelligence industry is booming at an unprecedented rate, becoming an important force leading productivity transformation and economic transformation in the Asia-Pacific region. This round of technological change has brought rare development opportunities to the development of the Asia-Pacific region, and the window period is also very valuable. APEC economies attach great importance to it and need to strengthen cooperation more than ever before. Share experiences and collaborate to seize the historical opportunities brought about by digital intelligence to ensure that no economy is left behind in the digital intelligence era.
The current Ministerial Conference on Digital and Artificial Intelligence will promote the implementation of regional digital intelligence cooperation from the following three aspects.
First, clarify the direction and seize the strategic opportunities brought about by technological change. Continuously promoting industrial technological innovation and strengthening the iterative upgrading of new technologies and products is an inevitable requirement for adapting to the new round of technological revolution and industrial transformation. During this ministerial meeting, APEC economies will jointly discuss how to make good use of the rapid development dividends of digital and artificial intelligence technology, give full play to APEC's policy coordination and leading role, further clarify the direction of development, determine the goals, principles and priority areas of cooperation, and provide clear guidance for regional digital intelligence cooperation.
Second, forge consensus and achieve common development through mutually beneficial cooperation. APEC economies will forge consensus and strengthen cooperation in five major directions, including promoting digital infrastructure connectivity, sharing digital intelligence development experiences, building a safe, reliable and resilient digital environment, and co-cultivating an open, inclusive and sustainable digital ecosystem to fully stimulate the innovative vitality and empowering effects of digital and artificial intelligence technology, unleash the huge potential of integrated digital intelligence development in the Asia-Pacific region, accelerate the cultivation and development of new types of productivity, and create a beautiful digital intelligent life.
Third, walk hand in hand to make the results of digital cooperation benefit everyone. Accessibility and benefit for everyone is the undertone of the development of digital and artificial intelligence technology, and it is also the common goal of the Asia-Pacific family to unite and develop. APEC member economies will strengthen exchanges and cooperation in the field of digital and artificial intelligence, break down barriers to digital resources, promote cross-regional connectivity, narrow the “smart divide” among members, enhance the fairness and inclusiveness of digital services, and promote the development dividends of digital cooperation to benefit all economies and people in the Asia-Pacific region. Thank you.
Gong Xian
Thank you to all the publishers for their presentations, and thank you to all our reporters and friends for participating. That's all for today's press briefing. Bye.
This article was edited by Gongxin WeChat, Zhitong Finance Editor: Chen Wenfang.