China's first independently developed intelligent drilling system, the "Changlong", has been officially put into operation, marking a significant milestone in advancing the digital and intelligent transformation in the country's energy sector, according to China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) on Wednesday.
The "Changlong" intelligent drilling system integrates intelligent drilling rigs, intelligent well sites, and intelligent decision-making platform into one unified system, capable of providing intelligent engineering support for oil and gas exploration at depths of nearly 10,000 meters underground.
The intelligent system enables real-time data exchange between downhole sensor networks and intelligent platform on the ground, automatically executing critical operations including collecting geological parameter, optimizing drilling trajectory, and monitoring equipment status, significantly enhancing both drilling efficiency and operational safety.
"The 'Changlong' intelligent drilling system has achieved drilling operations for the first time in the country, realizing full-process automation control in 'measurement-analysis-decision-execution,' which has replaced manual operations and decision-making with intelligent technology," said Chi Lijun, deputy manager of PetroChina Great Wall Drilling Company.
The system has not only achieved full-process digitalization of drilling operations, but also established internationally advanced oil and gas exploration and development solutions. "The 'Changlong' intelligent drilling system has achieved multiple technological breakthroughs, offering oil and gas exploration and development solutions at an internationally advanced level. It has laid a solid foundation for further exploration of intelligent drilling in the future and provided strong support for the efficient development of inner-earth resources and better safeguarding national energy security," said Yin Jiafeng, general manager assistant of PetroChina Great Wall Drilling Company.
China's first independently developed intelligent drilling system put into operation
Thai exporters are leveraging this year's China International Import Expo (CIIE) to seek new opportunities in China as innovation and shifting consumer demand reshape how Thailand's traditional agricultural products are grown, produced and brought to market.
For generations, families in Thailand have made a living from coconut palms, harvesting the fruit by hand and shipping it far beyond the orchards where it is grown.
Natthasak Manusrungsri's family has been exporting aromatic coconuts for more than two decades. But growing demand from China has transformed the scale of their business, driving production, expanding exports and inspiring new ways to bring this familiar fruit to consumers.
"Almost every factory that packs fresh coconuts depends on China as its main market, almost entirely. After Thailand received permission to export coconuts to China, volumes kept rising, driven by trends and by customers becoming more knowledgeable and health-conscious," said Natthasak Manusrungsri, managing director of K-Fresh Co.
But as demand grows, so does the pressure to innovate. Generations of agricultural knowledge are meeting a new generation of ideas.
For Thai producers, China offers enormous opportunities, but competition is intensifying. As consumer preferences change, exporters are shifting their focus beyond simply increasing sales to developing innovative products that offer greater convenience and bring more value to an increasingly competitive industry.
That transformation begins long before the coconuts leave the trees. Across a network of plantations, precision agriculture is helping farmers monitor growing conditions, identify problem areas, and improve yields, while maintaining the quality of Thailand's renowned coconuts.
Inside the factory, innovation takes a different form. Even the simple act of opening a coconut has been redesigned. A patented mechanism allows consumers to open it with a push.
"Innovation matters for both the farm and production, so we can deliver the highest quality to our customers. So, we practice precision agriculture. And in the factory, we focus on innovation to make it easier for consumers to open and enjoy, bringing quality products to consumers around the world and in China," said Manusrungsri.
For the farmers who tend these palms, the rhythm of life remains much as it has for generations. But beyond the orchards, almost everything else is changing.
And at CIIE 2026, Thailand's humble coconut is showing how an age-old harvest can find new value in a world of changing tastes and possibilities.
Thai coconut exporter taps CIIE to promote industry innovation
