The Light of Internet Expo, a signature event of the 2023 World Internet Conference Wuzhen Summit, opened in Wuzhen, East China’s Zhejiang province, on Nov 7. It is hosted by the World Internet Conference (WIC) and the People’s Government of Zhejiang Province.

Wang Song, vice-minister of the Cyberspace Administration of China, and Ren Xianliang, secretary-general of the WIC, attended the opening ceremony. Ke Jixin, vice-governor of Zhejiang, attended and addressed the ceremony.

The Light of Internet Expo of the 2023 World Internet Conference Wuzhen Summit opens in Wuzhen, East China’s Zhejiang province on Nov 7. [Photo/wicinternet.org]

In line with the theme of the 2023 WIC Wuzhen Summit, “Creating an Inclusive and Resilient Digital World Beneficial to All -- Building a Community with a Shared Future in Cyberspace”, the expo features exhibitions, release of new products and technologies, and job fairs, which has attracted participation of over 580 enterprises from more than 48 countries both online and offline. The “Light of the Decade”, a series of activities to commemorate the 10th year of the Wuzhen Summit, was inaugurated at the expo. Nearly 100 new product and technology releases are expected at the expo and more than 1,200 enterprises will post over 10,000 job opportunities at the expo’s online job fairs. All these demonstrate how the internet is driving the development of human civilization, illuminating the era, and creating a better future for all.

Highlighting its innovative and leading role, the expo combines offline display with online exhibitions on outcomes, products and technologies in such areas as artificial intelligence, digital technology, future smart manufacturing, digital villages, digital new infrastructure and cyber security. Special exhibition halls are also set up for overseas exhibitors and those involved in entrepreneurship and innovation.

Ten inaugural events and around 90 presentations for special scenarios will be held during the expo, and the presentations will focus on eight areas, including smart IoT, the metaverse, satellite internet, and industrial data monetization. Moreover, outstanding exhibits at the expo will be awarded the title of “New Light”.

This year’s expo seeks to maximize its impact by holding online and offline job fairs dedicated to the digital economy sector for the first time. In Wuzhen, 50 employers in the digital economy sector are offering a total of 786 job positions, with a specialized session for postgraduates. The online job fair has garnered over 100,000 clicks and seen more than 6,000 job applications, since it went online on Nov 1.

The expo showcases its 10-year history through the “Light of the Decade” tunnel and the online retrospective, and will also present commemorative medals and hold Wuzhen Dialogue to bond with exhibitors.

In addition, a digital experience hall themed on “Future Realm” makes debut, which is part of the expo’s efforts to prioritize diverse interactions, allowing visitors to immerse themselves in an interactive experience of future technological achievements.

The opening ceremony was attended by more than 200 participants, including representatives from the Cyberspace Administration of China, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the WIC and relevant departments in Zhejiang. The attendees also included representatives of exhibitors and media outlets.