Air Cambodia, the country's national flag carrier, has signed an agreement with the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China, Ltd. (COMAC) to purchase 20 C909 regional jets, the Chinese planemaker said.
The agreement, signed in Shanghai, makes Air Cambodia the first foreign flag carrier to place a bulk order for Chinese-built C909 aircraft, COMAC said.
The first batch is scheduled for delivery in the second half of 2026 and will enter commercial service with the airline.
Industry insiders said the new aircraft are expected to help Air Cambodia expand its route network, increase transport capacity and strengthen connectivity between Cambodia and regional markets.
Separately, COMAC and Cambodia's State Secretariat of Civil Aviation signed a memorandum of understanding to deepen cooperation in aviation safety, airworthiness certification and personnel training.
The C909, formerly known as the ARJ21, seats between 78 and 97 passengers and has a range of 2,225 to 3,700 kilometers. It is designed for operations at airports with short and narrow runways and performs well in high-temperature, high-altitude and crosswind conditions.
The C909 has expanded overseas since entering service in Indonesia in April 2023. It now operates in markets including Laos and Vietnam, serving 28 overseas cities and carrying more than 1 million passenger trips.
The jet accounts for about 70 percent of China's domestic regional jet fleet. China now has the world's largest air-travel population.
Data from the Civil Aviation Administration of China showed that the country has added about 40 million air travelers annually over the past two years, bringing its total air-travel population to 470 million, up 160 million from 2019.
Air Cambodia orders 20 Chinese-built C909 regional jets
Business leaders, researchers and entrepreneurs from around the world gathered at the 2026 World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC), where discussions are focusing on turning AI innovation into cross-border partnerships and real-world applications.
The 2026 WAIC is running in Shanghai from Friday to Monday under the theme "AI Partnership for a Brighter Future."
Across the exhibition halls, conversations often extended beyond product demonstrations, with visitors exploring potential partnerships, supply chains and overseas expansion.
Among them was Paolo Brizzi, chief information officer of Italy's Competence Center for Industry and Manufacturing (CIM), who met with a Chinese AI company to discuss cooperation ranging from industrial applications to entering the European market.
"My point is not to be a customer or a provider of technologies, but to identify parts [where we can] actually collaborate and work together," he said.
The four-day conference has also created opportunities for startups to connect with investors, researchers and potential customers. One startup launched an online networking group on the opening day, attracting hundreds of participants who exchanged ideas, explored business opportunities and sought technical solutions.
Participants said AI innovation depends not only on technological breakthroughs but also on cooperation across industries and countries.
"Collaboration is important because alone you cannot do so much. It needs to be a team support ecosystem," said Florian Wohlrab, CEO of Canada-based OpenHW Foundation.
For many international visitors, the conference is also an opportunity to explore how AI can help address practical challenges. Omar Khan, a participant from Pakistan, said international cooperation is essential to ensuring AI benefits everyone.
"I think, for me, we are all the one. We're human and I think we can cooperate a lot," he said.
Some attendees were looking for solutions to challenges in their home countries. A visitor from Kenya said AI applications such as weather forecast and soil analysis could help improve agricultural productivity across many parts of Africa, where farming remains a cornerstone of the economy.
As countries race to advance AI technologies, participants at this year's WAIC said the conference has become a platform for connecting ideas, technology and demand across borders, helping turn AI innovation into practical international cooperation.
World AI Conference highlights growing demand for global AI partnership
