Over 12,000 foreign merchants attend 5th Global Digital Trade Expo

The 5th Global Digital Trade Expo (GDTE) underway in Hangzhou City of east China's economically developed Zhejiang Province has attracted the participation of more than 50,000 professional merchants from 163 countries and regions, including over 12,000 from overseas.

Themed "Meet the AI Future at GDTE", the expo showcases cutting-edge technologies and solutions in digital trade, such as smart healthcare, intelligent mobility, and digital culture and entertainment.

Over 2,000 companies have taken part in the five-day expo which was kicked off on Wednesday, including 402 multinational companies and 55 Fortune Global 500 companies. Several global leading technology enterprises made their debut at the expo.

"You need to attract all the people to create this melting pot of information exchange, and connections, and networking. So I am impressed by the number of people who come here to experience it," said Joachim Kurz, a German merchant.

This year's expo serves as a bridge for open cooperation and mutual benefit between Chinese and foreign businesses. It helps connect participants with global innovation networks and vast markets, allowing them to share the opportunities created by development of the digital economy through technology exchange, trade and industrial collaboration.

"One notable feature of this year's GDTE is the presence of a large number of foreign participants. They are eager to learn how AI is being effectively applied in real-world scenarios in China and believe that China offers valuable experience in this field. We hope to take the GDTE as a platform to share China's practical experience with the rest of the world," said Yao Longfei, a Chinese exhibitor.

Running until Sunday, the event will host the debuts of new products and technologies in fields such as AI, aerospace and low-altitude aviation. It will also release a series of reports and research achievements on the development of digital trade.

Over 12,000 foreign merchants attend 5th Global Digital Trade Expo

Dialogue and cooperation between China and the United States, the world's two largest economies, matters far beyond the two countries themselves, said Adnan Z. Amin, chair of the officers' council of the World Energy Council (WEC), a global network of energy organizations.

In a recent interview with China Global Television Network (CGTN), Amin said such dialogue gives the wider world grounds for optimism, and that the economic issues between the two sides can only be resolved through sustained engagement.

"It's absolutely essential. I think when you have two of the biggest economies in the world in dialogue and collaboration, it makes a difference for the rest of the world. It provides an optimistic approach, it provides a positive kind of perspective of where we can be going. There are hard issues to discuss. The economic trade-offs are not inconsequential. They need to be addressed. And the best way to do it is through dialogue. And to see President Xi in Washington today is very encouraging, because I think that dialogue is essential today," he said.

Amin added that policymakers should set aside reflexive hostility and focus on the tangible benefits that cooperation can bring to people in both countries.

"We need to get beyond this kind of knee-jerk antagonism that you see in certain policy circles in different countries around the world to really look at what is the reality today. How will our collaboration improve the lot of people in our countries? And what are the best areas for us to do (work on) and who has to take responsibility for what. This is essential," he said.

China-U.S. dialogue "absolutely essential" for world: WEC chair