World Internet Conference Asia-Pacific Summit to spotlight AI development in HK

The World Internet Conference (WIC) held a press conference on March 17, announcing that its Asia-Pacific Summit will take place at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre from April 14 to15. The summit will focus on artificial intelligence under the theme of "Integration of AI and Digital Technologies Shaping the Future — Jointly Building a Community with a Shared Future in Cyberspace."

The announcement was made by Ren Xianliang, secretary-general of the WIC, and Sun Dong, secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government, at the National Convention Center in Beijing.

The selection of Hong Kong as the summit venue highlights the city's strategic position as a bridge between China and the international community. The summit is hosted by the WIC, organized by the HKSAR Government, and co-organized by the Hong Kong Innovation, Technology and Industry Bureau, according to the briefing. 

Sun emphasized Hong Kong's positioning as an international innovation and technology center, supported by national policies. Hong Kong ranks fifth in global competitiveness, third in emerging ecosystems, and seventh in digital competitiveness worldwide. The Hong Kong-Shenzhen-Guangzhou cluster has been ranked second globally among the top 100 science and technology clusters for five consecutive years.

He highlighted recent achievements of Hong Kong in AI sector, including the AI Supercomputing Centre launched in late 2024 and plans to establish the Hong Kong AI Research and Development Institute. Hong Kong now hosts nearly 4,700 startups, a fourfold increase compared to pre-pandemic levels. The development of the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Innovation and Technology Park in the Loop represents another major initiative in the region's technological advancement.

The summit will address the rapid advancement of AI technology, from ChatGPT's emergence to DeepSeek's global impact, showcasing how AI is transforming industries worldwide. Discussions will focus on critical challenges in AI development, including data quality, algorithm transparency, computing power accessibility, and the widening digital divide. It aims to promote international cooperation to address these challenges by bringing together different stakeholders.

The two-day event will begin with an opening ceremony on April 14, followed by the main forum. These sessions will focus on building robust foundations for a digital future, AI applications across industries, and security and governance in the digital era. On April 15, three specialized sub-forums will see discussions on large AI models, digital finance, and digital government and smart life.

Additional activities include a government-business dialogue on innovation-driven economic growth, a promotion event for the 2025 Practice Cases of Jointly Building a Community with a Shared Future in Cyberspace and the WIC Awards for Pioneering Science and Technology, and advanced training programs organized by the WIC Digital Academy.

The summit will also release several important research outcomes. These include Intelligence Governance for Good and for All—Empowering Global Sustainable Development report and Comparative Study on Cross-Border Global Data Flow Policies report. Multiple research findings from the WIC's cooperation with 60 global think tanks on AI themes will also be presented.

The event has already secured attendance from prominent guests. Representatives from international organizations and rising internet startups, including those from Hangzhou's "Six Little Dragons" tech cluster, have registered to attend.

The WIC with 182 members from 38 countries and regions across six continents, is committed to promoting global internet development and governance through international cooperation and dialogue.