China's "two sessions" spotlight AI expansion, economic integration plans: expert

Industry insiders say China's recent emphasis on AI development highlights the country's ambitions to compete globally in next-generation technology.

China on Thursday announced plans to advance and expand its "AI Plus" initiative, promote faster application of new-generation intelligent terminals and AI agents, and encourage large-scale commercial use of AI in key sectors.

The announcement was made at China's most important annual political gatherings, the "two sessions", the annual meetings of China's top legislature, the National People’s Congress (NPC), and the top political advisory body, the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), which have gathered thousands of Chinese lawmakers and political advisors in Beijing.

Signs of the AI push are already visible in the private sector. During the country's recent Spring Festival holiday which marked celebrations for the Chinese New Year, major companies distributed traditional red packets -- or lucky money coupons -- through AI-driven apps, a consumer-level case study of how policy is meeting practice.

"These are kind of concrete examples that big tech companies are taking actions to try to engage everyday people with advanced AI," said Winston Ma, author of "The Digital War" and adjunct professor in the global AI-digital economy.

Ma believes that wider adoption of AI among consumers will also generate vast amounts of data, fueling improvements in AI products and services.

"You have more than a billion internet users that are integrated by the same language, same culture, and the same mobile payment. So, every day there is tremendous amount of data accumulated at the digital platforms. So, the next step is to better utilize the data, organize the data, and put the data into work by AI to generate value," he said.

That value is increasingly visible in intelligent products, most notably robots. At the 2026 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas back in January, Chinese firms dominated the exhibition floor with machines and high-tech robots of every shape and size, performing not only acrobatic displays but also practical tasks that underscored their commercial potential.

"I think one thing that China is doing very well right now is connecting AI to hardware. So, AI to robotics, you can see around here, you see the robot coffee makers, robot cocktail makers, robots are everywhere doing real things, robot vacuums and pool cleaners. So, really using AI to do physical, work in the real world is something that China is doing very well," said Chris Pereira, founder and CEO of the south China-based tech ecosystem company iMpact.

"There will be a huge range of embodied AI. But overall, China has the advantage of the manufacturing process developed here in the "Made in China" expansion the last three decades. Essentially, Chinese manufacturing power can be combined with Chinese open source models to develop a huge industry, relating to industry robots as well as humanoids," Ma said.

Ma noted that this year's "two sessions" could extend the technology agenda "Beyond AI," encompassing quantum computing and biomedicine to lay the groundwork for next-generation industries.

China's "two sessions" spotlight AI expansion, economic integration plans: expert

American businesses are eager for cheaper imports ahead of the Christmas shopping season, even after pre-stocking led to record cargo volumes at California's busiest ports from July to August amid steeper tariffs on Chinese goods.

Following the recent meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and U.S. President Donald Trump, proposed tariff reductions on toys and other consumer goods are offering hope of lower costs for American businesses and shoppers.

However, many U.S. suppliers and shops began stocking up for the holidays well before the reduction was announced. As a result, the Port of Los Angeles, America's busiest container port, saw an unprecedented summer.

More than 2.9 million units were handled at the port in just three months, with cargo ships arriving and cranes unloading around the clock. The historic highs may have been driven in part by uncertainty about future tariffs.

"When tariffs are announced, we see a big rush of cargo, so the products can get here before they're taxed with higher levels, and then afterwards we see a real downturn in the cargo flow because inventory has been built up," said Eugene Seroka, executive director at the Port of Los Angeles.

Last year, 82 billion U.S. dollars' worth of goods passed through the Port of Los Angeles in trade with China alone. Together with Long Beach, it forms America's largest container port complex.

"When you look at our cargo volumes, we are ahead of where we were last year, and last year was a record for us. This year, due largely to the front-loading activity employed by our shippers, we saw Christmas shipments arriving as early as May and June," said Dr. Noel Hacegaba, chief executive officer at Port of Long Beach.

Cargo that arrives at the ports ends up in warehouses across the U.S. With possible tariff relief on Chinese-made toys coming just before the holidays, businesses are watching to see whether lower costs could reach consumers.

Toy wholesaler Claire Martinsen imports all her merchandise from China. Trump's tariffs initially left her fearing for her business.

"We were nervous. We were really scared at that time because the company was growing and we were actively hiring at the same time," said Martinsen.

Her company absorbed much of the added costs, but lower tariffs could bring relief.

"When President Xi and President Trump met, I was ecstatic. I knew something had to happen. Right now, we're averaging at about three to four containers a week. During the holiday seasons, we're expecting about seven to 10 containers a week," she said.

At a Los Angeles toy store, shopper Maria Rodriguez hopes prices will fall.

"It's good for our wallets because we'll be able to stretch our money and buy gifts for everyone," she said.

For families facing rising costs, easing trade tensions could make Christmas a little more affordable.

US businesses eye more holiday season imports after record cargo at California ports