Beijing Hosts Global Digital Economy Conference 2026, Showcasing AI and Smart City Innovation
Beijing opened the 2026 Global Digital Economy Conference (GDEC) on July 2 at the China National Convention Center, bringing together nearly 40 high-level international delegations and over 1,000 industry guests for a four-day showcase of artificial intelligence, robotics, and digital governance. Themed “Building Digital-Friendly Cities — Smart Benefits Without Borders, Digital Connecting the Globe,” the conference marks a pivotal moment as China enters its “15th Five-Year Plan” period, which prioritizes AI-driven economic transformation.
Digital Economy as Economic Bedrock
The conference arrives at a time when Beijing’s digital economy has become the dominant force in the city’s economic output. According to the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Statistics, the city’s digital economy增加值 reached 2.4166 trillion yuan in 2025, accounting for 46.4% of Beijing’s GDP — an 8.7% year-on-year increase. Core digital industries grew 10.4%, representing 29.3% of the economy.
“From software information services to artificial intelligence, from data elements to intelligent manufacturing, the digital economy has become the ‘ballast stone’ for stable economic growth and a ‘new engine’ for quality and efficiency improvement,” said Jiang Guangzhi, Director of the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Economy and Information Technology, as reported by Xinhua News.
Beijing’s AI industry has surpassed 450 billion yuan in scale, with 254 registered large AI models — the highest of any Chinese city. The city also boasts 157,500 5G base stations (72 per 10,000 people, also a national high) and intelligent computing power of 82,000 P.
Global Participation and New Initiatives
The conference has expanded its international footprint significantly. Zhao Junsheng, Deputy Secretary-General of the China Association of Communication Enterprises, noted that “the global cooperation landscape continues to expand and upgrade; this conference’s international coverage and industry linkage scale have reached new highs,” as reported by the Beijing Government Portal.
More than 30 international organizations are participating, alongside 40+ cities forming the Global Digital Economy Cities Alliance and 112 business associations across a global cooperation network. New co-organizers include the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and the World Data Organization.
Key initiatives launched at the conference include the Global Digital-Friendly City evaluation framework, a special action for digital service facilitation for inbound foreigners in key Chinese cities, and the formal establishment of the UNDP Digital-Friendly and Digital Economy Sustainable Innovation Lab in Beijing.
The “Digital-Friendly City” Vision
A central theme of this year’s conference is the “Digital-Friendly City” concept, first proposed by Beijing at the 2025 GDEC. The framework encompasses four dimensions: technology-friendly, development-friendly, scenario-friendly, and openness-friendly. It has already gained support from 52 countries through the Global Digital-Friendly Initiative.
Zhang Xiaojing, Director of the National Finance and Development Laboratory at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told Xinhua that “in the digital economy era, the core of development is not how advanced the technology is, but whether the relationship between technology and people, technology and society, is sustainable, approachable, and trustworthy.” He emphasized that a more friendly digital economy shifts from being “technology-centered” to “people-centered,” allowing ordinary citizens to share digital dividends.
Yang Yong, an International Advisory Committee Member of GDEC, described digital friendliness as “a ‘Chinese city solution’ to the global digital economy governance challenge,” noting that it “sets no thresholds and draws no camps.”
Technology Showcase and Product Launches
The conference features a “First Release” platform for cutting-edge technologies. Duan Yanbiao, VP of Beijing Yunji Technology, announced at the conference that the company will release an embodied intelligent single-arm collaborative robot, initially deployed in hotel smart laundry scenarios before expanding to pharmacy sorting and convenience store pickup, according to China News Service.
More than 50 specialized forums are scheduled across the main session, covering international digital trade, digital talent cultivation, data factor marketization, and global digital governance. The concurrent Digital Economy Industry Expo features six themed zones, including a Global OPC (One-Person Company) Co-Creation Festival showcasing AI-enabled entrepreneurship.
Industrial Transformation and Forward Outlook
The conference also highlights Beijing’s broader economic transformation. Traditional industrial districts are reinventing themselves: Mentougou District is transitioning from a “Thousand-Year Coal City” to the “West Beijing Intelligence Valley,” while Shijingshan District is evolving from an old industrial base into a digital finance hub.
Liu Weiliang, Deputy Director of the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Economy and Information Technology, offered a historical perspective, noting that just as horsepower defined the steam age and electricity defined the electrical age, “computing power and token consumption” now measure economic scale. He suggested that embodied robots may become the iconic carrier of this transformation, “much like the steam engine was in its era.”
As the conference unfolds through July 5, the release of industry standards, evaluation guidelines, and sector-specific reports will provide a clearer picture of how Beijing — and China — intends to shape the global digital economy landscape in the years ahead.