Marco Landi, founder of the EuropIA Institute, attended a sub-forum on the film industry at the 2025 China International Intelligent Communication Forum in Wuxi, Jiangsu province, on Nov 8.

Landi praised Wuxi's solid foundation for AI development and its rising role in the global tech ecosystem. He pointed out that Wuxi and France have broad opportunities for cooperation, spanning data sharing, enterprise partnerships, and the creation of an AI film festival.

Why do Chinese people always maintain peace with others, instead of engaging in confrontation? Let's hear the answer from Dong Yuhui, a well-known livestream influencer and former English teacher, at the World Internet Conference Wuzhen Summit.?

The 2025 World Internet Conference Wuzhen Summit was held in Wuzhen, Jiaxing, Zhejiang province, from November 7 to 9, under the theme "Forging an Open, Cooperative, Secure and Inclusive Future of Digital Intelligence -- Building a Community with a Shared Future in Cyberspace".

For Pakistani youth Muhammad Umair, his journey to Puyuan Ancient Town — a sub-venue of the WIC Wuzhen Summit — was more than just a trip; it was a fantastic, dimension-transcending encounter with Wukong, the Monkey King from the classic Chinese novel Journey to the West.

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Iluvatar CoreX has won the World Internet Conference (WIC) Distinguished Contribution Award in the growth potential category at the 2025 WIC Wuzhen Summit, recognizing its pivotal role in China's general-purpose graphics processing unit (GPU) sector.

Iluvatar CoreX, which designed and launched the nation's first general-purpose GPU, has grown into a leading enterprise in the field over the past seven years.

The company chairman stated that this accolade recognized not only its sustained efforts and past accomplishments, but also validated its strategic commitment to an independent domestic GPU development path.

Furthermore, he expressed hope that this recognition would attract increased talent and capital investment to the sector, contributing to the sustainable development of the entire digital industry.

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At the 2025 World Internet Conference (WIC) Wuzhen Summit, Ant Misuan, a subsidiary of Ant Group, won the WIC Distinguished Contribution Award for its pioneering Trusted-Environment-based Cryptographic Computing technologies that safeguard data in the era of artificial intelligence.

Wei Tao, vice-president and chief technology security officer of Ant Group and chairman of Ant Misuan, highlighted the WIC's role as a vital platform connecting Chinese enterprises with international partners to advance shared growth in the digital age.

With data elements becoming a national strategy and large models fueling a new AI wave, the next 3-5 years would be key to accelerating technological progress and transforming industry efficiency, Wei noted.

He said that the transformation was global in scope, driven by innovation and collaboration, and expected the WIC to play a bigger role in facilitating international exchanges and cooperation in the field.

At the 2025 World Internet Conference Wuzhen Summit, Fan Yuan, chairman of DAS-Security, received the WIC Distinguished Contribution Award.

He said that the honor recognizes the company's achievements in cybersecurity and data security, as well as its efforts to apply technological innovation to the digital economy.

Fan highlighted that "AI + Security" is driving greater innovation, efficiency, and inclusiveness. He added that DAS-Security will continue expanding its technologies globally, enabling more countries to benefit from digital development.

"Digital and multidisciplinary talents who understand AI, digital scenarios, and security will be in strong demand," Fan noted, adding that the company will keep promoting innovation for a safer and more inclusive future.

ZTE Corporation has been honored with the Distinguished Contribution Award at this year's World Internet Conference (WIC) Wuzhen Summit, recognizing its long-term commitment to technological innovation and the application of research into the real world.

ZTE noted that this achievement reflects its two key commitments: continuous investment in fundamental technological innovation, and innovation in product applications that serve industries and people, turning technology into tools that empower society.

The company also highlighted that the WIC's focus on inclusive technology and secure governance aligns with its mission to help build a community with a shared future in cyberspace. As a WIC member, ZTE actively contributes to cybersecurity governance research, sharing its expertise and innovation to support the sustainable growth of the global digital ecosystem.

Arm received the WIC Distinguished Contribution Award at the 2025 World Internet Conference (WIC) Wuzhen Summit—recognizing both its sustainability achievements and groundbreaking high-performance low-power computing technology.

Arm envisions this recognition continuing to spotlight the synergies between technological innovation and social value—driving tech for good to address global challenges in energy, the climate, and digital divide—ultimately fostering societal prosperity and improving lives.

Qian Hualin, the technical architect behind China's full access to the internet, was honored with the WIC Distinguished Contribution Award at the 2025 World Internet Conference Wuzhen Summit.

Reflecting on the early days of China's internet, Qian noted that research results often took months to materialize and international information exchange was challenging, making the construction of this network essential.

Qian highlighted the summit's role in promoting collaboration among experts and companies, emphasizing that even informal discussions can spark innovation. He also called for future awards to recognize and encourage young innovators who are shaping the internet's future.

Ding Pengbo, deputy director of the National Museum of China, delivered a keynote speech titled "From 'Digital Replication' to 'Value Regeneration': Exploration and Reflection on the Digital Preservation and Inheritance of Cultural Heritage at the National Museum" at the Forum on Digital Preservation and Transmission of Cultural Heritage during the World Internet Conference Wuzhen Summit.

She pointed out that the NMC is committed to advancing the digitalization of cultural relics from static archiving to dynamic utilization, thereby unlocking their cultural value. Through high-precision acquisition, the museum has built a petabyte-scale data repository and launched innovative applications like the Digital World of Rhino-shaped Vessel exhibition, virtual digital humans, and AR tours, effectively revitalizing cultural relics.

She stressed the importance of further scaling up data acquisition, pioneering the application of AI Agents in museums, and strengthening global collaboration to foster an open, inclusive, and sustainable digital ecosystem for preserving and disseminating cultural heritage.

Liu Yuzhu, chairman of the China Foundation for Cultural Heritage Conservation, delivered a keynote speech titled "Philanthropic Forces as Connectors and Enablers in Cultural Heritage Digitalization" at the Forum on Digital Preservation and Transmission of Cultural Heritage during the World Internet Conference Wuzhen Summit.

"We are living in an era of sweeping digital civilization, where cutting-edge technologies such as the internet, artificial intelligence and big data are reshaping our work and lives in unprecedented ways," Liu said.

Philanthropic forces, represented by public-interest social organizations, with their unique public-oriented mission, neutrality and flexibility, are increasingly playing an indispensable role as connectors and enablers in the digitalization of cultural heritage, he added.

Kostas Nikou, executive director of the University of Western Macedonia in Greece, delivered a keynote speech at the Forum on Digital Preservation and Transmission of Cultural Heritage during the 2025 World Internet Conference Wuzhen Summit, presenting the university's holistic model for digitally preserving and creatively inheriting industrial heritage in the energy transition era.

Nikou highlighted that the highest power of digital protection lies in creative inheritance, underscoring the critical link between strategic policy, economic development, and cultural memory.

Nikou shared the university's vision to create a "digital twin" of the entire region and its industrial heritage, turning socio-economic challenges into cultural and technological opportunities. He also called for international exchange and cooperation to advance this digital transformation.

Zhu Haimin, director-general of the Zhejiang Provincial Cultural Heritage Administration, delivered a keynote speech.

Her speech – entitled Digital Empowerment for Historic Cultural Heritage Conservation: The Zhejiang Approach of Archaeology-First - was made on Nov 9 at the Forum on Digital Preservation and Transmission of Cultural Heritage.

It took place during the World Internet Conference Wuzhen Summit in Wuzhen city, East China's Zhejiang province.

Drawing on Zhejiang's practical experience, she elaborated a systematic new approach that employs digital solutions to resolve conflicts between urban development and cultural preservation.

Director Zhu expressed Zhejiang's willingness to share this digital reform model internationally, offering a viable solution for global cultural heritage conservation efforts.

Gai Jorayev, president of the International Scientific Committee on AeroSpace Heritage, International Council on Monuments and Sites, delivered a keynote speech titled "Digitization of Heritage Archives for the Preservation of Tangible Cultural Heritage: Ways Forward" at the Forum on Digital Preservation and Transmission of Cultural Heritage during the World Internet Conference Wuzhen Summit.

Jorayev pointed out that the digitization of cultural heritage archives is more than a technical process - it is a moral responsibility that connects the past and the future. In the face of challenges such as climate change, urbanization and tourism development, establishing global standards and enhancing accessibility and sustainability have become pressing issues in heritage preservation, he added.

Jorayev called for the formulation of unified global standards for digitization, setting clear specifications for resolution, precision and file formats to ensure the sustainability and future adaptability of archives. He noted that in an era of rapid advances in emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, such standards are particularly important.

Liu Yang, director of the China Cultural Heritage Information and Consulting Center (Data Center of the State Administration Cultural Heritage), delivered a keynote speech titled "Empowering the High-Quality Development of Cultural Heritage with Artificial Intelligence" at the Forum on Digital Preservation and Transmission of Cultural Heritage during the World Internet Conference Wuzhen Summit.

Liu said that the digitalization of cultural heritage is a crucial way to foster a thriving cultural sector, develop the cultural industry and strengthen cultural confidence.

He noted that the wave of digitalization is reshaping how cultural heritage is preserved and inherited. "Standing at a new historical starting point, we bear the mission of safeguarding, carrying forward and showcasing China's civilization through information-based approaches," Liu added.

Tang Fei, director of the Sichuan Provincial Cultural Heritage Administration, delivered a keynote speech at the Forum on Digital Preservation and Transmission of Cultural Heritage during the 2025 World Internet Conference Wuzhen Summit, elaborating on how Sichuan has applied digital means to conserve and utilize cultural heritage.

He presented Sichuan's innovative practices in digital cultural heritage conservation, including employing remote sensing technology and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles for millimeter-level recording and virtual reconstruction in archaeological exploration at the Sanxingdui sacrificial area, establishing a high-definition 3D digital model of the Leshan Giant Buddha through laser scanning and digital twin technology, and utilizing artificial intelligence models for heritage disease diagnosis and virtual restoration.

Tang stated that Sichuan will build a "Digital Bashu" cultural front and create a "Sichuan Model" for digital conservation and utilization of cultural heritage, expressing hope to deepen cooperation with the international community.

Zhu Hongwen, deputy director of the Palace Museum, delivered a keynote speech titled "The Digital and Intelligent Transformation of the Palace Museum" at the Forum on Digital Preservation and Transmission of Cultural Heritage during the World Internet Conference Wuzhen Summit.

She introduced the Digital Palace Museum as a major support for the overall development of the Palace Museum and as an innovation in the digital era, reflecting nearly 30 years of progress.

Zhu said that the Palace Museum's Digital Cultural Relic Library was first opened to the public for free in 2019. Initially, 50,000 items were accessible; today, 150,000 items are available, she noted. According to statistics, about 70 million people visit the Palace Museum online and another 20 million visit in person, bringing the total to nearly 100 million people experiencing the museum's culture annually.

Beyond online digital cultural products, Zhu noted that the Palace Museum also offers offline digital exhibitions and has been developing digital twin technology in recent years.

With "AI Vision" technology, home appliances will be smarter, said Du Yongjie, technical director of Haier Three Winged Bird technology ecosystem platform, during the 2025 World Internet Conference Wuzhen Summit.

China plays an important role in shaping the global digital landscape and is leveraging its Digital China initiative to spur worldwide development, said a long-time observer of China's economic transformation, highlighting the country's contribution to the global digital economy.

"China's focus on applying high-tech, especially internet technology and artificial intelligence, is currently world-leading." said Gilbert Van Kerckhove, rotating chairman of the UWEE Group and the honorary dean of the Beijing March Digital Economy Technology Research Institute.

As a Belgian national who has lived in China for 45 years, Gilbert said he has personally witnessed the country's remarkable economic transformation since the reform and opening-up. Particularly in the areas of telecommunications and the internet, China has made impressive progress to become a pioneer, he said.

He made the remarks at the recent World Internet Conference Wuzhen Summit, where he told the media that he was particularly interested in the latest progress and innovative ideas in strengthening cybersecurity.

"AI governance has become a major global challenge," he said, adding that effective management of AI requires continuous innovation and technological advancement, a path he called the only viable way forward.

Looking ahead, Gilbert highlighted the guiding principle of "deeply advancing the construction of Digital China" in the upcoming 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-30), which he said represents a new quality productive force.

"This involves building an open, shared, and secure unified national data market and promoting the deep integration of the real and digital economies, including the implementation of the industrial Internet innovation and development project," he added.

Zhang Chenxu contributed to this story.

During the 2025 World Internet Conference Wuzhen Summit, prizes were awarded for the Global Internet Competition of "Straight to Wuzhen". Xiaomi HyperAI took home the grand prize in the smart terminal track. According to Xiaomi's chief architect, the company aims to organically integrate AI with its operating system, delivering an intelligent and proactive service experience to users around the world.