The 5th Global Digital Trade Expo opened in Hangzhou on September 23, 2026, bringing international delegations from 132 countries together under an artificial intelligence theme. Chinese Premier Li Qiang addressed the launching ceremony on September 24, emphasizing open cooperation and global economic recovery.
The 5th Global Digital Trade Expo Opens in Hangzhou with Record International Footprint
The 5th Global Digital Trade Expo officially opened its doors at the Hangzhou Grand Convention and Exhibition Center, running through September 27, 2026. Centered around the theme Meet the AI Future at GDTE
, the annual event adopts a 1+6+1
exhibition structure and features a dedicated Digital Trade Innovation and Integration Exhibition Area.
The sprawling 170,000-square-meter exhibition space has attracted more overseas delegations than all previous editions combined. International exhibitors account for more than 20 percent of all exhibitors, with representatives from 132 countries and regions and 40 international organizations confirming their attendance, according to the expo’s official organizers.
Artificial Intelligence Takes Center Stage Across Seven Specialized Pavilions
Artificial intelligence serves as the primary thread connecting the exhibition’s layout. According to China’s Vice Minister of Commerce Yan Dong, more than one-third of the exhibitors focus specifically on AI, presenting an end-to-end innovation ecosystem that spans foundational models, industry applications, and smart devices alongside the debut of AI application pilot bases.
- Silk Road E-Commerce: Highlights cross-border services and AI-integrated business applications across Belt and Road Initiative partner countries and BRICS nations.
- Artificial Intelligence: Displays computing power infrastructure, hardware clusters, and core algorithms.
- Intelligent Mobility: Focuses on the low-altitude economy, embodied intelligence, and the global expansion of China’s automotive industry.
- Digital Entertainment: Showcases digital technologies empowering trade in digital products.
- Digital Healthcare: Features bio-medicine, smart medical devices, and proactive health applications.
- Smart Spaces: Presents integrated digital operations and maintenance services for city management and commercial space operation.
On the sidelines, a series of specialized competitions cover open-source development, embodied intelligence, and brain-computer interface technology.
Global Tech Giants Showcase Cutting-Edge Products and Medical Breakthroughs
Multinational technology corporations turned out in force, with 55 Fortune Global 500 companies among the participants. Tesla drew substantial crowds by exhibiting its driverless electric vehicle, the Cybercab. Designed specifically for autonomous driving without a steering wheel, pedals, or rearview mirrors, the vehicle relies entirely on eight onboard cameras, pure vision analysis, and end-to-end neural network technology rather than lidar or high-definition maps.
In the digital healthcare pavilion, U.S. medical technology firm Medtronic marked its first appearance at the expo by displaying a device that merges artificial intelligence with brain-computer interface technology to assist Parkinson’s patients.
“This product is the world’s smallest and lightest brain pacemaker. Its unique sensing technology can detect abnormal electrical signals in the patient’s brain and then analyze and organize them.”
Cai Xinqiang, manager of Medtronic’s neuromodulation business for Medtronic in China
Other prominent global firms, including Google and Amazon, participated to connect with local manufacturing networks. Qiu Sheng, vice president of Amazon China, pointed to the country’s extensive industrial capacity during the event. China possesses the world’s most complete manufacturing system and a vibrant digital innovation ecosystem, he noted, creating enormous potential to link businesses with cross-border e-commerce players.
Chinese Premier Li Qiang Calls for Openness and North-South Digital Cooperation
Addressing the launching ceremony on Thursday, Chinese Premier Li Qiang drew a direct line between historical technological shifts and the current wave of digital expansion. He warned against protectionist impulses in an increasingly digital global economy.
“Every major technological innovation in history brought about a more open world. Today, with accelerated digitization, the trend of economic globalization is unstoppable. Against this backdrop, mutual distrust and beggar-thy-neighbor approach will only be discarded by the times, and only through mutual trust, mutual benefit and open cooperation can we win the future.”
Li Qiang, Chinese Premier
Premier Li also urged the international community to strengthen North-South cooperation to bridge technological disparities. He emphasized that development requires both speed and a human touch to prevent digital expansion from widening the gap between wealthy and developing nations.
Addressing foreign enterprises directly, Li pledged that Beijing will fully implement national treatment for foreign-invested firms and resolve their reasonable concerns to support long-term commitments in the Chinese market.
Procurement Commitments and Long-Term Digital Trade Projections
Commercial activity at the expo has scaled rapidly alongside its physical footprint. Organizers reported that nearly 40,000 professional buyers, including more than 12,000 from overseas, have registered for the event. Pre-arranged international procurement orders have reached 977 million U.S. dollars.
The growth mirrors broader national trade trends. China’s digitally deliverable service trade expanded at an average annual rate of 11.2 percent between 2016 and 2025, outpacing the global average by 1.8 percentage points. Under a guideline released in November 2024, the Ministry of Commerce expects the share of digitally deliverable services in total service trade to exceed 45 percent by 2029 and 50 percent by 2035.