World Internet Conference Wuzhen Summit opens in China

The 2024 World Internet Conference(WIC) opened on Wednesday in east China's Wuzhen Town of Zhejiang Province.

Themed with "Embracing a people-centered and all-for-good digital future--building a community with a shared future in cyberspace," this year's Wuzhen Summit will run through Nov 22. The summit will host 24 sub-forums focusing on global development initiatives, digital economy, innovation and governance of artificial intelligence(AI).

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World Internet Conference Wuzhen Summit opens in China

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World Internet Conference Wuzhen Summit opens in China

Amid mounting global concerns about AI development and governance, a special AI section has been added to sub-forums this year. Discussion will revolve around topics such as AI tech innovation and governance and AI empowering new quality productive forces, aiming to establish a platform for global cooperation and deepen global governance in AI.

Additionally, a professional committee for AI has been set up and the committee will work as the first professional and regular branch of the WIC to build an international platform for AI exchange and cooperation.

Meanwhile, the summit has initiated a WIC think tank cooperation plan, with approximately 60 global high-end international think tanks expected to participate.

This year, the WIC for the first time introduced the Distinguished Contribution Award to recognize individuals and enterprises who have made outstanding contribution in global internent.

As an important event of the WIC, the Light of the Internet Expo this year highlights AI-themed products.

So far, a total of 665 domestic and international exhibitors have participated in the expo through both online and offline channels, showcasing cutting-edge technologies and the latest applications in fields such as AI algorithms, intelligent connected vehicles, and the low-altitude economy.

During the event, more than 100 launching ceremonies of new products and technologies are scheduled, marking the highest number in the expo's history. Since 2014, the Wuzhen Summit has been successfully held for ten consecutive years. Currently, the WIC includes about 170 institutions, organizations, companies, and individuals from over 30 countries and regions across six continents as its members.

China's outstanding aggregate social financing -- the total amount of financing to the real economy -- reached 442.12 trillion yuan (about 63.4 trillion U.S. dollars) as of the end of 2025, up 8.3 percent year on year, central bank data showed on Thursday.

The country's aggregate social financing stood at 35.6 trillion yuan (about 5.1 trillion U.S. dollars) in 2025, up by 3.34 trillion yuan (about 479 billion U.S. dollars) from the year 2024, said the People's Bank of China (PBOC), the country's central bank.

According to the data, the M2, a broad measure of money supply that covers cash in circulation and all deposits, increased 8.5 percent year on year to 340.29 trillion yuan (about 48.8 trillion U.S. dollars) as of the end of December.

In addition, outstanding yuan loans stood at 271.91 trillion yuan (about 39 trillion U.S. dollars) at the end of 2025, up 6.4 percent year on year.