Overseas Chinese Businesses Seize China’s AI Opportunities
Overseas Chinese business enterprises are actively seizing artificial intelligence development opportunities in China, leveraging the country’s rapidly expanding AI ecosystem to bridge domestic technology with international markets. The trend follows the 2026 World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC 2026), held in Shanghai from July 17-20, which showcased China’s growing appeal as a global AI hub and attracted significant attention from Chinese entrepreneurs worldwide, according to People’s Daily.
A Landmark AI Conference
WAIC 2026, held under the theme “Intelligent Partners, Creating the Future Together,” drew official representatives from over 100 countries and international organizations. More than 1,100 exhibitors showcased over 3,000 cutting-edge products across more than 100,000 square meters of exhibition space, with over 300 products making their global debut at the event.
The conference released the AI Cooperation Development Action Plan, outlining eight major action directions for international AI cooperation over the next five years, and saw 29 countries sign an agreement to establish the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization (WAICO), headquartered in Shanghai. As Wikipedia notes, WAICO is the world’s first intergovernmental organization focused specifically on AI, and is viewed as rivalling the US-led Pax Silica initiative.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian emphasized China’s commitment to global AI cooperation, stating that China “has always been committed to being a provider of international public goods in the AI field,” as reported by the Chinese government.
Overseas Chinese Businesses as Bridges
The conference’s outcomes have resonated deeply with overseas Chinese entrepreneurs, who see China’s AI development as a gateway to global cooperation. Three business leaders featured in People’s Daily’s Overseas Edition exemplify this trend.
Wang Xiaopeng, chairman of Beijing Shima Dahua Technology and a UK returnee with over 20 years of experience in AI and computer vision, highlighted the evolving nature of AI development. “AI has gradually moved from the technological breakthrough stage into a new phase of coordinated development between innovative applications and global governance,” Wang said. He emphasized that “China’s rapid AI development provides a broad stage for overseas Chinese businesses,” and pledged to promote exchanges between research institutions, innovative enterprises, and investment institutions.
Li Junhan, managing director of Singapore-based Cedi Technology, participated in the “Overseas Chinese Connecting Maritime Silk Road” study activity in Beijing, which brought together 45 young overseas Chinese entrepreneurs from 15 countries. Li observed that “China’s AI industry development is not only reflected in the continuous launch of competitive large models, but also in the effort to push technology toward efficient, inclusive, and practical implementation.” His company, founded in 2007, has delivered over 200 global projects across the Americas, Europe, Asia, and the Pacific Islands.
Liu Jialong, director of the Argentina China Smart Manufacturing Center, represents a newer wave of overseas Chinese entrepreneurs entering the AI space. His team established a startup in 2025 and obtained Argentina’s first officially licensed Douyin guild qualification. “China’s big data analysis systems can review South American market live-stream traffic, consumption preferences, and sales data, relying on intelligent analysis to judge the market and help us precisely adjust live-stream operations,” Liu explained. His center is building a 1,000-square-meter exhibition hall to showcase Chinese high-tech products in Argentina.
A Growing Trend
The engagement of overseas Chinese businesses with China’s AI sector extends beyond individual enterprises. At the 2026 Global Digital Economy Conference held in Beijing in early July, overseas Chinese business leaders similarly highlighted AI as a key opportunity area, with the event releasing a “2026 Key Country Digital Economy Cooperation Demand List” to provide precise opportunities for overseas Chinese businesses, as China News reported.
China’s AI ecosystem has gained significant global traction. According to Sina Finance, China’s open-source AI models, including DeepSeek, Kimi, and Z.ai, have seen adoption among US companies rise from below 10% of tokens in mid-2025 to around 40% in mid-2026. The AI Cooperation Development Action Plan addresses key global challenges, including the digital divide, where high-income countries hold 78% of global AI computing resources compared to just 2% for low-income countries.
Looking Ahead
With over 60 million overseas Chinese and 40 million returned overseas Chinese and their relatives, the overseas Chinese business community represents a powerful bridge between China’s technology sector and international markets. As China continues to position itself as a global leader in AI development and governance, overseas Chinese entrepreneurs are increasingly well-positioned to facilitate the two-way flow of technology, talent, and investment.
Foreign Minister Wang Yi signed the WAICO agreement on behalf of the Chinese government, with UN Secretary-General António Guterres attending the signing ceremony. The organization’s establishment marks a significant milestone in global AI governance, and overseas Chinese businesses are poised to play a crucial role in the collaborative AI ecosystem that China is actively building.
As the China Overseas Chinese Network reported, these entrepreneurs are committed to “connecting domestic mature AI technologies and solutions to the international market,” positioning themselves as the “super interface” for China-global AI cooperation in the years ahead.