The Conference on AI-Driven Ecosystem Development for Qingdao Enterprises Going Global, together with the launch of the Qingdao Global Expansion Center platform, was held on the afternoon of February 5 with Deputy Chief of the CPC Qingdao Municipal Committee and Mayor of the city Ren Gang attending the conference to deliver a speech.

In his address, Ren Gang lauded Qingdao’s openness as the city’s defining strength, distinctive feature, and source of future potential. The CPC Qingdao Municipal Party Committee and the Qingdao Municipal People’s Government have consistently placed the expansion of high-level opening-up at the core of the city’s development strategy where the benefits of Qingdao’s open economy have continued to flourish since the start of the 14th Five-Year Plan period. Looking ahead, the city will accelerate the development of a new hub linking domestic and international dual circulation in the 15th Five-Year Plan period to make more proactive use of both domestic and global markets and resources. In response to the profound, wide-ranging, and complex changes in the international trade environment in recent years, Qingdao has actively explored effective approaches, promoted coordinated government–enterprise efforts to expand overseas, improved comprehensive overseas service systems, and stepped up policy support to help companies achieve greater growth on a broader global stage. Recognizing how artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly reshaping how companies expand overseas by how it can be implemented to deliver more precise business matching services and digital marketing solutions, the newly launched Qingdao Global Expansion Center platform represents an innovative application in this facet to support the endeavors of private enterprises to go global and an active effort to build a new service model for outbound development. Private enterprises are encouraged to make full use of the platform’s resources to strengthen their international operating capabilities while the platform itself is expected to continue improving its functions and delivering more efficient, higher-quality services, injecting fresh momentum into the development of the Overseas Qingdao program. The city will continue to refine the overseas expansion ecosystem and support more Qingdao-based enterprises in entering global markets and make greater contributions to China’s goal of becoming a leading trading nation and strengthening its overseas economic presence.

During the event, President of the University of International Business and Economics Zhao Zhongxiu, along with representatives from the Ministry of Commerce’s Foreign Trade Development Bureau, the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation, and Microsoft Global, delivered speeches and presentations. The Qingdao Municipal Bureau of Commerce, Haier Group, and Beijing BlueFocus Communications gave project briefings. During the signing session, the Qingdao Municipal People’s Government and Beijing BlueFocus signed a strategic cooperation memorandum while the Qingdao Global Expansion Center also signed cooperation agreements with two business associations and 14 enterprises to establish a multi-party collaborative ecosystem integrating government, platform, enterprises, and trade associations.

Officials from the provincial Department of Commerce, city official Gao Jian, as well as the various heads of relevant municipal departments, principal officials from district and county governments and administrative committees of functional economic zones, and representatives from relevant business associations, foreign trade and import–export enterprises, digital firms, and cross-border e-commerce companies were also in attendance for the event.