AI reshaping China's manufacturing landscape: British business leader

Artificial intelligence and automation have accelerated the transformation of traditional manufacturing in China, creating huge amounts of investment opportunities, according to Jack Perry, chairman of the London-based 48 Group and executive chairman of LEC Robotics.

In an interview with China Global Television Network (CGTN) on the sidelines of the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) Annual Conference 2026 in Boao, south China's Hainan Province, Perry said investors should pay close attention to the growing capabilities of the robotic technologies being deployed in Chinese production facilities.

"If you're looking at where automation and AI is being used, you're seeing it really being used in factories. Two years ago, I would go into a Chinese factory and there were no lights on. It was mainly just robotics or automation. But now the robotics are taking the opportunity to do different things within the automation. So being able to move fabric from one place to another one of autonomous forklift truck, cleaning the floor, the whole ecosystem is being changed and that's not just automation. Robotics is under the umbrella of automation," said Perry.

"If you're analyzing investment opportunity, technology is the umbrella that you're thinking about, but technology is so broad. So you've got to think what areas in technology really have the opportunity -- well, AI, obviously. The foundation of what you need in AI is data, expertise and then labeling of that data and then implementation. And then that lends itself to robotics. So those things that I would say other places to focus on -- robotics and evolution of AI," he said.

Running from Tuesday to Friday, this year's BFA conference is themed "Shaping a Shared Future: New Dynamics, New Opportunities, New Cooperation."

Founded in 2001, the BFA is a non-governmental and non-profit international organization committed to promoting regional economic integration and bringing Asian countries closer to their development goals.

German chemicals giant BASF on Thursday put its massive production complex in south China's Guangdong Province into full operation, marking the largest single investment project wholly owned by a German enterprise in China.

With an investment of 8.7 billion euros (about 10 billion U.S. dollars), the integrated site covers about 4 square kilometers in Zhanjiang City of Guangdong, the company said, a move that industry analysts say underscores BASF's long-term commitment to expanding in China as the country continues to promote high-standard opening up.

The complex, known as a Verbund site, has successfully started up 32 production lines and is producing more than 70 products, including basic chemicals, intermediates and specialty chemicals for the transportation, consumer goods, electronics, home and personal care industries.