Artificial intelligence (AI)-powered manufacturing took center stage during the four-day Eighth Western China International Fair for Investment and Trade, which concluded Sunday in Chongqing, a major industrial hub in southwest China.
Western China is rapidly transforming its traditional industrial base into a hub for digital innovation and smart manufacturing, and that transformation was on full display at the fair.
In one standout demonstration, industrial robots and humanoid machines worked seamlessly together to perform precision spot-welding on automotive parts.
"With 3D vision guidance, the industrial robot accurately identifies, locates, and grips workpieces and moves them to the spot-welding station. This can greatly boost the entire production line's efficiency," said Liu Hongwei, a solution manager with Dexforce (Chongqing) Technology.
The high-tech showcase reflects a broader transformation unfolding across Chongqing. To accelerate the shift, local authorities are identifying the specific AI needs of manufacturers and directly connecting them with technology service providers.
"Given the rapid advancement of AI and Chongqing's status as a national advanced manufacturing hub, hosting 'AI plus manufacturing' events like this enables more manufacturing enterprises to keep pace with AI developments. At the same time, it allows them to tailor these technologies to their specific needs, driving upgrades through intelligent transformation and digital empowerment," said Yang Mingyuan, director of the Chongqing Municipal Commission of Economy and Information Technology's future industry division.
During the fair, more than 200 major projects were signed, with manufacturing accounting for 80 percent of the total.
Covering a total exhibition area of 150,000 square meters, this year's fair has attracted nearly 1,400 enterprises from 50 countries and regions. Britain serves as the guest country of honor.
Peter Burnett, chief executive of the China-Britain Business Council, said attending businesses are looking to connect the UK's advanced industries with Chongqing's fast-growing digital and green economy.
"A lot of investment from Chongqing and encouragement from the government to develop this new manufacturing, so, advanced manufacturing. It's also, of course, consistent with messages from the 15th Five-Year Plan. You've now got this huge value added through technology and through AI in particular. The level of interest is, I think, pretty good, and I think that's a reflection of people's understanding that Chongqing, and Western China, actually offers a new growth opportunity," the business advocate said.
The fair also released a catalog -- the Invest in Chongqing List of Opportunities -- for the first time. The list includes 277 cooperation projects and aims to highlight Chongqing's opportunities in advanced manufacturing, green and low-carbon development, and the digital economy.
AI-powered manufacturing takes center stage at western China trade fair
