A high-level forum between China and Thailand on Saturday brought together over 600 industry leaders in Chengdu, capital of southwest China's Sichuan Province, marking a new milestone fueled by booming bilateral trade.
The China (Sichuan)-Thailand Investment and Economic Forum was a key stop during Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul's visit to China from July 16 to 20.
"Our aim is to strengthen cooperation with Sichuan in trade, investment, and economic and social development. I firmly believe that new opportunities in the years ahead will further elevate our economic partnership, as the strengths of Thailand and Sichuan complement and reinforce each other," said Charnvirakul at the event.
The event featured the inauguration of the Thailand Board of Investment's Chengdu Office.
China has been Thailand's largest trading partner for 13 consecutive years. In Sichuan Province, trade with Thailand reached around 41.9 billion yuan (about 6.19 billion U.S. dollars) in 2025, up more than 112 percent year on year.
Enterprises from both sides see strong potential across a wide range of industries.
"We have two phases. Phase One is already sold out. Most of them are Chinese companies. Now we open for Phase Two. So we are looking forward to welcoming more Chinese investors," said Nicole Tan, director of strategic partnerships of Absolute Clean Energy Public Company, a leading clean energy company in Thailand.
"Thailand's push for clean energy and energy transition presents great opportunities for us. We hope to align with the country’s development strategy and further advance cooperation in the energy sector," said Zheng Lewei, a business representative of China's Dongfang Electric International Corporation.
As Thailand seeks economic transformation, technological innovation is expected to become a new driver for growth and cooperation, according to attendees.
"Thailand can learn a lot and can actually work with China on how to bring out the AI technology to the ASEAN or South Asia region, including Thailand. I think this is a really big area that would uplift the well-being of the people of Thailand, and definitely around the world, if with the right governance and how we best utilize AI for humanity," said Suphachai Chearavanont, senior vice chairman of Charoen Pokphand Group, Thailand's largest private company.
China-Thailand Investment and Economic Forum boosts opportunities for deeper partnership
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
