China is accelerating its push to further integrate artificial intelligence and big data with the real economy to foster high-quality development, said an official at the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology.

More efforts should be made to make breakthroughs in core AI technologies, promote the deep integration of AI and the manufacturing sector, build up AI industrial clusters and establish basic supporting platforms as well as service systems for the AI industry, according to Wang Xinzhe, chief economist at the ministry.

"Buoyed by the blossoming of big data and internet technology, China's AI sector has embarked on a development fast track. We will strive to bring the development of the AI industry to a new high," Wang said on Tuesday at a State Council Information Office news conference in Beijing.

Zhou Changkui, a member of the Communist Party of China Leading Group at the Ministry of Science and Technology, said China has already made substantial development in the AI sector.

"Currently, China ranks in second place globally in terms of the number of international scientific papers published and patents granted for inventions. China has also made breakthroughs and even been at the forefront in some key fields, such as voice recognition and visual recognition technologies."

As part of China's efforts to integrate AI with the real economy, the 2018 Smart China Expo will be held from Aug 23 to 25 in China's southwestern municipality of Chongqing.

The first Smart China Expo will be jointly organized by Chongqing, the Ministry of Science and Technology, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the Chinese Academy of Engineering and the China Association for Science and Technology.

Themed "Smart Technology: Empowering Economy, Enriching Life", the 150,000-square-meter expo is expected to attract a wide range of leading domestic and overseas internet and tech tycoons and companies, including Alibaba Group Holding Ltd, Tencent Holdings Ltd, JD and foreign giants such as Siemens AG.

Two parallel summits and several forums will be held during the event, covering topics related to big data, AI, semiconductors, smart manufacturing, fifth-generation communication technology, the industrial internet, smart supercomputing and smart applications.

Notably, the expo will arrange a 30,000-square-meter smart experience plaza for visitors to experience smart living in creative ways. Alibaba, Tencent, Baidu Inc and other leading tech companies will simulate a wide range of smart applications related to transport, healthcare, education, homes and shopping.

Zhou added the upcoming expo would help boost AI development in China's western region and promote balanced economic development across the nation.

ouyangshijia@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily 06/27/2018 page14)