On July 26, Jan De Silva, Chair of the APEC Business Advisory Council's Digital Innovation Working Group, expressed amazement during a visit to a robot production facility in Chengdu, stating, "Unbelievable, my peers really need to see what’s happening in a city in western China!"
The astonishment came from the striking sight inside a four-story vertical factory where robots were assembling other robots. It also stemmed from vivid scenes at the APEC venue: AR glasses translating 261 languages, delivery robots autonomously navigating elevators and gates, and humanoid robots engaging in lively Q&A sessions with people.
The enthusiasm was further grounded in data that is not an isolated phenomenon—Sichuan's AI industry revenue grew by 22.9% year-on-year in 2025, with over 1,700 AI-related enterprises clustering and thriving. During the conference, Chengdu issued 141 "Space Invitations" to the global community, and the Chengdu Metropolitan Area presented a comprehensive "Opportunity List," showcasing Sichuan's immense growth potential.
Shared Industrial Ecosystem: From "What I Have" to "We Use Together"
In July, at the Chengdu Century City New International Convention and Exhibition Center, over 1,000 guests from 21 economies and 4 observer delegations gathered, marking the official start of the "Chengdu Time" for the APEC "China Year." The Minister of Transport and Info-communications Technology from Brunei stopped to admire a naked-eye 3D work of Anyue Grottoes. After listening to the introduction, he proactively left his contact details, asking, "Can ordinary photos be converted into 3D images? I want to customize a 3D family photo." This idea was soon transformed into a tangible product.
At the venue, Dr. Chakkrapong Kuensaen from Chiang Mai University in Thailand repeatedly tried on a multifunctional AI glasses and then stopped to study a robot capable of autonomously inspecting 1,000 acres of farmland for pests in a single day. Upon leaving, he candidly remarked, "I believe this is what the future looks like."
However, what Sichuan presented to APEC went far beyond the displays within the conference halls. The "2026 APEC Digital and AI Ministerial Statement (Chengdu Statement)" was a key outcome of the Digital Week. During a series of closed-door meetings, Asia-Pacific economies reached a consensus to jointly promote digital and AI technologies to empower the Asia-Pacific community.
How to achieve this empowerment? A key method from China's AI approach is scenario-driven, application-led development, which was also the "approach" in Chengdu during the Digital Week.
Transforming investment attraction into dialogue. At the 2026 Asia-Pacific Digital Partners Dialogue and "Invest in Chengdu" Global Investment Conference, entrepreneurs were placed in the spotlight. Leading industry figures from companies like Intel, Dongfeng, Alibaba Cloud, and Zhiyuan took the stage to share their insights. "The Chengdu factory has developed into one of Intel's largest chip packaging and testing bases globally," stated Wang Zhicong, Chairman of Intel China, on site, serving as a powerful endorsement of an open Sichuan.
Putting application scenarios on the table. At the Space Computing Industry Ecosystem Conference, Chengdu released a list of space computing scenario opportunities, issuing 141 "Space Invitations" to the world, inviting partners to explore future industrial frontiers.
Extending activities to the front line. Throughout the four-day themed visit program, Sichuan meticulously set up four specialized routes: digital healthcare, smart cities, digital cultural creativity, and artificial intelligence. Guests traveled from hospitals to communities, from cultural parks to factory floors, turning "listening to meetings" into "seeing the reality," directly experiencing the pulse of industrial development to find the best points for collaboration.
Bringing cutting-edge technology to the streets. During the Digital Week, Wang Xingxing, founder of Unitree, arrived. Unitree initiated deep cooperation with Chengdu's Jinjiang District, bringing robot street battles and holding cross-scenario global premieres on the bustling Chunxi Road, bringing the most advanced robot products directly to the public. This facilitated the experience and direct sale of tech products, helping accelerate the transformation of scientific achievements while showcasing a vibrant and dynamic AI ecosystem to the world.
"China has shown the world how to use AI to solve problems in industrial development and people's livelihoods. These are the most authentic experiences," said Satvinder Singh, Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN, after witnessing various scenarios in Sichuan.
From AR glasses to delivery robots, from factory floors to Chunxi Road—Chengdu during APEC was far more than just discussions in conference halls. The world saw not just "Made in Sichuan" but a rapidly growing industrial ecosystem. Sichuan's openness and cooperation are not abstract concepts but are concretely transformed from "diplomatic traffic" into "development increments" through a series of specific paths in systems, scenarios, investment attraction, and services.
A Glimpse of Sichuan's Broader Industrial Landscape from APEC
APEC serves as a window, opening up to a larger picture. Just one month before the 2026 APEC Digital Week, the "2026 Famous Chinese and Foreign Enterprises Sichuan Tour" event concluded. Over 600 well-known domestic and international enterprises and more than 800 guests participated. In just a few days, Sichuan released over 1,100 high-quality industrial projects globally, offering cooperation opportunities worth over 1.8 trillion yuan, leading to the landing of a batch of major projects.
As Jeff Zimmerman, Chairman of the American Chamber of Commerce in China, which represents over 800 member companies in the US, put it: "Investing in China is investing in the future. The development opportunities here are astonishing!"
The market is the most honest and reliable indicator. A continuous stream of domestic and international enterprises are flocking to Sichuan, recognizing both the evolving development of China's industrial westward shift and the opportunities brought by Sichuan's national mandate to become a "strategic highland for opening up to the west and a new base for participating in international competition."
Opportunities lie in synergetic industrial chains. Sichuan is one of the few provinces in China with all 41 major industrial categories and 31 manufacturing categories. However, being "large and comprehensive" does not necessarily mean "strong and excellent." This is a shortcoming that Sichuan needs to overcome, and it is also where cooperation opportunities lie.
In recent years, Sichuan has been fully promoting the "15+N" key industry chain building and strengthening initiatives, tailoring strategies for sectors like electronic information, new energy lithium batteries, aerospace, and high-end equipment. It aims to "open its doors to guests" targeting weak links in the industrial chain. This is not just about general investment attraction; it’s about enabling every enterprise coming to Sichuan to find its own position in the chain, precisely locate markets, and expand development boundaries. For instance, Siemens' Chengdu Digital Factory, a global Lighthouse 4.0 factory, continues to increase investment and expand capacity, becoming Siemens' global core R&D and production base for automation products. It effectively drives the clustering and linkage of upstream and downstream supporting enterprises in the province's industrial automation sector, creating its own "industrial ecosystem aircraft carrier fleet."
International pharmaceutical giants like AstraZeneca and Sanofi have also established regional headquarters, R&D centers, and settlement centers in Sichuan, continuously improving the high-end services and innovation system of Sichuan's biomedical industry and enhancing the companies' market influence.
Global investors bring technology and products into Sichuan and then reach the world through Sichuan. Data shows that in 2025, the revenue of Sichuan's key industry chains exceeded 3.3 trillion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 7.6%. This substantial market return serves as a vivid testament to the "two-way journey" between Sichuan and global investors.
Opportunities also lie in the increasing openness of the industry to the outside world. In recent years, Sichuan has innovatively explored new models for integrating trade and industry, deeply tapping into a batch of trade-suitable products in key industries, areas, and enterprises. This drives simultaneous efforts and upgrades in both trade and industry. The "new three items" and specialty products are particularly impressive: photovoltaic products reach European solar power stations directly; for every 10 power batteries produced globally, one is "Made in Yibin"; new energy vehicles are accelerating their global journey, becoming smarter and more tech-oriented, moving from "trial" to "normality"; and "Made in Sichuan" three-wheelers are now common in Central Asian markets and on the streets of Europe and America, serving as important "last mile" transport vehicles.
Relying on an open industrial ecosystem, Sichuan's global recognition and international competitiveness have significantly improved, showing the world a province full of opportunities. The fact that Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul led a delegation of 150 prominent Thai entrepreneurs to Sichuan during the APEC Digital Week is the latest proof. After taking office, Prime Minister Anutin made Sichuan an important stop on his first official visit to China. He not only brought a 150-person delegation of top Thai entrepreneurs but also established the Investment Office of the Royal Thai Consulate-General in Chengdu, casting a vote of confidence with real investment and turning the cooperation into a "long-termism."
An Open Sichuan Makes Every Visitor Feel at Home
If the discussions in the conference halls were a rational handshake, then the "shopping sprees" of APEC guests on the streets of Chengdu were a vote of emotion. During the Digital Week, APEC guests visited the Chunxi Road business district, posing for photos with the iconic "climbing panda" and experiencing the convenient "buy now, refund now" centralized tax refund service. At the 176-square-meter exhibition area of "Chengdu Good Enterprises and Good Products," the Huangbaihoney was bought out by attendees, leaving only the samples. Some guests were seen walking and eating yogurt with caviar they had just bought. At the corporate booths intended for display, some small snacks and exhibits sold over 6,000 yuan in a single day.
This is the true meaning of openness—it is not only written in industrial cooperation agreements but also in the daily experiences of every foreign guest. It promotes the beneficial development of the global economy and strengthens interpersonal connections and emotional bonds.
On the eve of APEC, Chengdu released the "Chengdu Guide for Tax Refund for Overseas Travelers," simplifying the refund process, locations, and even the guidance on refundable goods. A total of 67,000 merchants in the city now accept overseas bank cards, ensuring a hassle-free shopping experience for guests in Chengdu. At Chengdu Tianfu International Airport, over ten integrated smart channels combine functions like health declaration and identity verification, allowing foreign guests to clear customs in seconds.
From payment convenience to tax refund ease and fast customs clearance, these seemingly trivial details convey a clear signal: Sichuan is not just saying "Welcome to come for a meeting," but "Welcome to come, and we hope you will visit often."
Data shows that as of June 4 this year, passenger entries and exits in Sichuan have exceeded 3 million, a 17.1% increase year-on-year, reaching a six-year high for the same period. Among them, entries and exits of foreigners in Chengdu reached over 938,000 person-times, a 38.3% increase year-on-year, frequently topping the list of popular destinations.
Today, Sichuan has transformed from an inland region in western China into a global hotspot. Jan De Silva noted that she had visited Chengdu over a decade ago, and this time, it felt like a "completely different city." The scenery remains—giant pandas, hotpot, Dujiangyan—but the industry is no longer the same. Emerging industries, future industries, and advanced manufacturing are flourishing here.
This is perhaps the significance of hosting the 2026 APEC "China Year" Digital Week activities in Sichuan—to let the world personally touch the openness happening, the industries growing, and the future arriving on this land in western China. And this is just the beginning.
Comments