Chengdu Showcases Digital, AI Innovation At APEC Week
KUALA LUMPUR, July 24 (Bernama) -- The 2026 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Digital and AI Ministerial Meeting and related Digital Week activities are being held in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, from July 16 to 29, highlighting the city's growing role in digital innovation and regional cooperation.
The Chengdu Municipal People's Government, the organiser of the event, said in a statement that the event serves as a platform for advancing exchanges in digital and artificial intelligence (AI) development across the Asia-Pacific region while showcasing Chengdu's capabilities in technology, manufacturing and the digital economy.
Organised around four key themes — AI innovation, industrial achievements, Tianfu culture, and economic and trade cooperation — the Digital Week features activities aimed at promoting high-quality growth in Chengdu's manufacturing sector and digital economy.
The meeting's location in Chengdu marks the first time the APEC digital event has been held in China's inland region, reflecting efforts to expand digital cooperation beyond traditional coastal centres. Leveraging China's "Eastern Data, Western Computing" initiative, Chengdu has developed digital infrastructure to support innovation and international collaboration.
Chengdu has established a strong digital economy ecosystem, with its core AI industry exceeding 150 billion Chinese yuan in scale and growing about 39 per cent year-on-year. (100 Chinese yuan = RM60.39)
The city has built more than 80,000 5G base stations and developed computing infrastructure integrating supercomputing, intelligent computing, general-purpose computing and edge computing.
The city is also home to major industrial clusters in electronic information and equipment manufacturing, while its digital cultural and creative industries have gained international attention. The Chengdu-produced animated film Ne Zha 2 surpassed 10 billion Chinese yuan in box office revenue, demonstrating the integration of technology and cultural innovation.
Beyond technology, Chengdu is promoting international cooperation through its cultural heritage, transport connectivity and open urban environment. The city, known for landmarks including the Dujiangyan Irrigation System, giant pandas and Sichuan cuisine, continues to position itself as a bridge connecting traditional culture with digital transformation.
Through the APEC Digital and AI Ministerial Meeting, Chengdu aims to showcase how digital technologies can support economic growth, industrial upgrading and broader cooperation across the Asia-Pacific region.
-- BERNAMA