China-ASEAN AI innovation cooperation seminar kicks off in Nanning

The Seminar on Artificial Intelligence (AI) Innovation and Cooperation for China and ASEAN kicked off in Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, on Nov 10.

Organized by China's Ministry of Commerce and hosted by the China-ASEAN Expo (CAEXPO) Secretariat, the event brings together over 20 participants from ASEAN countries including Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar and Cambodia, as well as Mongolia.

Wang Jicai, secretary-general of the CAEXPO Secretariat, said that the CAEXPO, which has held 22 sessions, has built a practical cooperation platform between China and ASEAN.

This year, the expo featured AI as a main feature, with a dedicated AI pavilion, an "AI CAEXPO" intelligent agent, and a batch of signed China-ASEAN AI cooperation projects. It also officially launched the China-ASEAN AI Application Cooperation Center.

The seminar is held against the backdrop of the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area (CAFTA) 3.0 Upgrade Protocol, signed on Oct 28, 2025, which highlights the digital economy as a key priority area–making the event a boost to deepening bilateral AI cooperation.

Chinese government officials and experts will deliver lectures on topics such as the prospects of ASEAN applying AI large models, multi-modal technologies, and opportunities for AI-driven digital economy cooperation.

Participants will explore digital transformation and AI empowerment across different industries, using CAEXPO's development as a case study. The agenda includes field trips to Nanning and Guilin to demonstrate AI applications in areas like the low-altitude economy, emergency rescue, ecological monitoring of the Lijiang River, and smart cultural tourism.

Kim Yee Lee, an associate professor from Malaysia's Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman, expressed enthusiasm for learning about China's AI technologies and their practical uses. She believes this knowledge will motivate ASEAN peers to adopt similar practices and foster greater cooperation with China.