The 5th GDTE achieved notable results: spanning 170,000 sqm, it drew participants from 163 countries/regions and 40 international organizations, with 2,008 offline firms, over 50,000 professional buyers and 428,000 total visits across five days.
The Fifth Global Digital Trade Expo (GDTE) was held in Hangzhou from 23 to 27 September. On the morning of 24 September, Chinese Premier Li Qiang attended and addressed the opening ceremony. Premier Li noted that the Expo has become an important platform for advancing global cooperation in the digital economy. As President Xi Jinping has pointed out, digital technologies are increasingly being integrated throughout all areas and processes of economic and social development, profoundly transforming the way we produce, live, and govern society.
Professor Yabin Wu, Secretary-General of the Global New Industrial Revolution Alliance (NIRA) and Executive Director of the AI Sustainable Development Hub, was invited to attend the opening ceremony. On the first day of the Expo, he officially launched the Global Call for AI × SDG Best Practices 2026 at the Launch & Premiere Stage. During the Expo, Professor Wu also participated in the Zhejiang Promotion and Exchange Event and the Digital Trade and Artificial Intelligence Dialogue, engaging with Chinese and international participants on technological innovation, industrial applications, and international cooperation.
Launched on 23 September, the Global Call for AI × SDG Best Practices 2026 calls for best practice submissions from around the world that demonstrate how artificial intelligence can contribute to sustainable development. The initiative focuses on tangible impact across five key areas: human development, scientific innovation, climate and energy, AI safety and trust, and inclusive societies. It also seeks to connect innovators with real-world application scenarios, industry partners, investors, and international markets, helping effective solutions move beyond pilot projects toward broader industrial adoption and global deployment.
“We have seen many exciting advanced technologies, and we also understand the pressing challenges facing industries and society. What is still missing is a bridge between the two,” Professor Wu said at the launch ceremony. He noted that the Global Call was jointly initiated with partners from the United States, Europe, Hong Kong, Zhejiang Province, and other parts of the world precisely to help build that bridge. NIRA hopes the initiative will go beyond identifying and recognizing outstanding projects to facilitate concrete partnerships, enabling technology to deliver practical responses to sustainable development challenges.
At the Zhejiang Promotion and Exchange Event and the Digital Trade and Artificial Intelligence Dialogue on 24 September, Professor Wu was joined by Steve Hoffman, NIRA’s American Honorary Chairperson, for in-depth exchanges with Chinese and international representatives. Discussions focused on the application of artificial intelligence, international expansion and sustainable development of enterprises, ways to connect innovative projects with Zhejiang’s industrial application scenarios, and opportunities to leverage NIRA’s international cooperation network to expand into Asia-Pacific and global markets.
The Fifth GDTE achieved remarkable outcomes. It attracted exhibitors and business participants from 163 countries and regions, as well as 40 international organizations. The exhibition covered 170,000 square meters, with 2,008 companies participating offline. More than 50,000 professional buyers attended for sourcing and business engagement, while total attendance reached 428,000 visits over the five-day event.
