By Li Zheng Chen Miaolin
The Global Digital Trade Expo (GDTE), China’s sole national-level international exhibition centered on digital trade, is hosted by the Ministry of Commerce and the Zhejiang Provincial People’s Government and organized by the Hangzhou Municipal Government, the Department of Commerce of Zhejiang Province, and the Foreign Trade Development Bureau of the Ministry of Commerce.
Last year, President Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory letter to the second GDTE, encouraging all parties to use the forum for cooperation, development, and achievement-sharing. The third GDTE has been included in this year’s Report on the Work of the Government released by the State Council and is set to be held at Hangzhou Grand Convention and Exhibition Center from Sep 25 to 29, 2024.
This year’s GDTE underscores its role as a “national, international, and digital trade-driven” event. It combines exhibitions, supporting events, achievement demonstrations, and the GDTE Online platform to provide an immersive, engaging, and rewarding experience, aiming to set a global benchmark in digital trade exhibitions.
Zhejiang Vice Governor Lu Shan actively promoted the Expo at a Sep 18 State Council Information Office press conference, spotlighting its star attraction: the globally popular game Black Myth: Wukong will collaborate with leading hardware firms for a live, legendary showcase. Additionally, the AI Zone will feature the debut of over 60 intelligent robots in one competition.
Hangzhou Mayor Yao Gaoyuan affirmed that as the host of the third GDTE, Hangzhou is committed to delivering a spectacular event, fostering an international platform, enriching digital interactions, and providing impeccable services. The city extends a warm welcome to all guests from home and abroad.
Enhancing openness through international cooperation
Exhibitions The Expo covers 150,000 square meters, an 88% increase from the previous session. Leading enterprises from 25 countries and regions will participate, with international exhibitors making up over 20% in both number and area. In addition to national pavilions from Kazakhstan and Thailand, the Expo introduces International Friendship Cities and Overseas Industry pavilions for the first time. It also integrates renowned international exhibitions, partnering with Barcelona Smart City Expo World Congress, the world’s largest and most influential urban innovation event, to extend its global reach through the Smart City Zone and the “Smart City Expo World Congress·Hangzhou Stage” event.
Product debuts Nearly 400 new products and technologies will make their debut during the third GDTE, with about a quarter coming from abroad, far exceeding the previous session. Key functional platform debuts include Ant Group’s Cloud-based Cryptographic Computing Center and Hangzhou’s first computing power scheduling announcement platform. Leading technologies, such as OxValue.AI’s groundbreaking multi-modal enterprise valuation system and LUOGE’s first cross-border trade and international tax-focused large model, will be featured. Digital products, including Q.G Plan’s Wigain MR glasses with real-time multi-language translation and seven AI mini-models, and SONABLATE HIFU’s new electrical impedance tomography product for bedside lung function imaging, will also debut at the event.
Matchmaking & Negotiations The Digital Free Trade Zone Industry Matchmaking Conference continues, with inaugural events like “Invest in China—Dialogue between Development Zones and Fortune 500 companies” attracting nearly triple the international visitors compared to the last session. Before the Expo, supply-demand meetings will match over 50 procurement teams with 50 key exhibitors to facilitate major deals; during the Expo, a series of business matchmaking activities will take place on-site; after the Expo, global procurement orders will be released through the “GDTE Online” platform year-round, facilitating transactions between exhibitors and buyers, enhancing the Expo’s practical outcomes.
Innovation forging new joint development
Exhibits The Expo boasts a quadrupled number of premieres, launches, and debuts, debuting a Future Industries Zone to highlight cutting-edge technologies. A dedicated Robotics Zone, first established within the AI Exhibition Area, gathers over 35 robot enterprises, displaying 50+ intelligent robots across 20+ interactive scenarios, marking a popular attraction. The Low-Altitude Economy Theme Area, curated in the Smart Mobility Zone, brings together leading domestic players like EHang, Wanfeng Auto, and AEROFUGIA, showcasing the full spectrum of low-altitude economy advancements. With its debut, the domestic AAA game Black Myth: Wukong occupies a 168 square meter booth, enhancing the Expo’s appeal through real-time gameplay for overseas players and collaborations with NVIDIA, Sony, and other global hardware giants.
Innovation To enhance on-site interactions, digital humans, naked-eye 3D, and other technologies will be employed. Innovative event scenarios include a Debating Championship via Digital Human and the world’s first AI Piano and AI Electronic Music Composition Competitions. New application scenarios are premiered, such as State Grid’s hydrogen-electric coupling demonstration base integrating hydrogen production, storage, refueling, and fuel cells, and Hangzhou Free Trade Zone’s release of cross-border data negative lists and regulations.
Services Each participating company will receive a “digital profile” for precise supply-demand matching. Service zones will offer efficient payment services to international buyers. Hangzhou will offer tailored “One Delegation, One Strategy” hospitality, launching the “AI Hangzhou” app for seamless services. By linking 27 domestic trade delegations with foreign cities, a grand digital trade cooperation platform will be established, ensuring all attendees depart satisfied.
China’s new development offers new opportunities to the world
Branding Enriching event content centered on the e-commerce industry ecosystem and taking the lead in implementing FOCAC Summit outcomes by planning African Digital Trade Day, setting a new benchmark for digital trade collaboration.
Report Releases In addition to continuing to release the Report on China’s Development of Digital Trade and the Silk-Road E-Commerce Development Report, the Report on China’s Digital Commerce Development will be released for the first time, showcasing China’s achievements and future outlook in digital commerce, and contributing Chinese wisdom to bridging the global digital divide. The Expo will also witness the release of several professional reports and authoritative lists and implement international cooperation.
Now, start your inspiring journey and explore more at the third GDTE!