AI Empowers Industry Upgrade: International Entrepreneurs Offer Insights on Beijing's Opening-up and Innovation

China News Service Beijing, March 20 — The 17th Beijing Mayor’s International Business Advisory Council (referred to as the “International Advisory Council”) was held in Beijing from March 19 to 20. Guests from various sectors discussed trends in the technology industry, global industrial innovation collaboration, and the development and governance of mega-cities.

“The world can learn a lot from Beijing’s scientific research strength, development speed, and industrial scale, and vice versa,” said AstraZeneca’s Global CEO, Sir Andrew Soubirou, at the meeting on the 20th. After announcing a new investment of about 18 billion yuan in Beijing last year, AstraZeneca announced in January that it plans to invest 100 billion yuan in China by 2030.

He believes that AI will transform the entire process of drug discovery, research and development, manufacturing, and ultimately benefiting patients. Beijing already has remarkable advantages in this field and should establish closer ties with leading global innovation ecosystems, continue to strengthen policies supporting innovation, and promote the development of public health.

“The current wave of technological innovation centered on artificial intelligence is moving from the ‘experimental stage’ of technological breakthroughs to the ‘large-scale application stage’ of deep integration with the economy and society,” suggested An Siming, Chair of Deloitte Global Council. She proposed that Beijing, by building a global innovation hub for physical AI and leading new models of human-machine collaboration, could develop a “native AI” mega-city. She stated that Deloitte China will leverage its extensive global network, deep industry experience, and forward-looking insights to actively empower Beijing’s innovation exploration and practical implementation in these areas, supporting the city’s high-quality development.

Kinzpeter, Chairman of Hong Kong Railway Limited, expressed interest in Beijing’s night economy development. He believes that the night economy is an extension of daytime city activities, with most venues and facilities located within urban areas, making it a good platform for utilizing existing economic resources. He suggested that Beijing, Shanghai, and Hong Kong could develop a “Jing-Shanghai-Hong Kong Cultural and Arts Corridor” to promote high-quality cultural industry development.

The Beijing Mayor’s International Business Advisory Council was established in 1999. Its advisory members include top executives from Fortune 500 multinational companies and well-known institutions. The secretariat is based at the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Commerce. Currently, the council has 38 member units, playing an active role in promoting the development of international enterprises in Beijing and deepening the city’s opening-up. (End)

(Edited by: Wen Jing)

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