AI+ forum held to spotlight fresh AI development in Xiong'an

The Xiong'an "Artificial Intelligence (AI) +" Industry Ecosystem Integration Development Forum was held on Saturday in Xiong'an New Area, a much-anticipated "city of the future" in north China's Hebei Province, featuring the latest developments in the AI sector.

As a parallel session of the 2026 Zhongguancun Forum, the event brought together more than 400 participants, including academicians, experts, and representatives from enterprises and investment institutions.

The forum highlighted the latest efforts of Beijing and Xiong'an to advance the coordinated development of the AI industry.

The event showcased key AI technological achievements and introduced a joint Beijing-Xiong'an project list under the "Open Bidding for Selecting the Best Candidates" program.

Additionally, it included the signing of major sci-tech cooperation and industrial investment projects, along with the launch of the Xiong'an New Area AI "Hundred-Models Competition."

Guests at the event praised Xiong'an's development, especially on the technological front.

"The city is so exciting because it's a city that is built for the future with all the technology in mind and technology not only in being modern, but in protecting the environment, ensuring that the life of people, the work-life balance is equal, and this is something that impresses me very much," said Thomas Rooch, managing director of the Market Development Asia of the United Waterways, a European provider of ship management services.

"Actually I think Xiong'an is dedicated to the implementation of AI and AI plus into all physical high-tech industries like automotive, like biomedicine, like medical technology, but also in the healthcare sector," said Rita Roider, director of China Affairs of the Department of Labor and Economic Development of the Munich City.

"So what I see in Xiong'an is not only a lighthouse project for a modern way of living, for new areas, try out new urban projects. It's also like a platform where international projects might see opportunities to test out their new systems," said Benjamin Schreiber, international sales manager of Fraunhofer ENAS, a German smart integrated systems developer.

AI+ forum held to spotlight fresh AI development in Xiong'an

China's commodity price index stood at 129.9 points in March, up 4 percent month on month and 14.5 percent year on year, according to data released by the China Federation of Logistics and Purchasing (CFLP) on Sunday.

Among the 50 major commodities under key monitoring by the CFLP, 38 recorded a month-on-month price increase in March.

Specifically, diesel, methanol and ethylene glycol led the gains, rising 30.5 percent, 30.4 percent and 29.3 percent, respectively, from the previous month.

Affected by imported factors such as tensions in the Middle East and a sharp rise in international crude oil prices, China's energy and chemical price indices rose significantly, up 16.5 percent and 21.8 percent month on month, respectively.

Driven by rising international fertilizer prices and growing demand for biofuels, China's agricultural product price index increased by 2.8 percent month on month.

Analysts noted that the sharp rise in the commodity price index in March comes from factors such as the recovery of the domestic commodity market, the good outcomes of policies, and the ongoing tensions in the Middle East.

Given the increasingly volatile international commodity prices and the rising uncertainties in importing energy, chemicals and other commodities, it is necessary to diversify the sources of raw materials, expand the use of alternative resources, and enhance the ability to resist and respond to risky factors that may cause fluctuation in markets, said the analysts.

China's commodity price index up 4 pct in March