Visitors attend the MWC 2024 held in Barcelona, Spain Photo: Cheng Zhong

 
More than 300 Chinese technology companies are participating in the Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2024, in Barcelona, Spain, showing their latest innovations and products in a bid to tap into new business opportunities and gain a bigger footprint in European markets and beyond, the Global Times learned from the event organizer and media reports on Monday.

Despite the relentless technology crackdown on Chinese companies by the US, analysts said that Chinese companies have demonstrated enduring competitive advantages in the field, evident through their latest offerings showcased at the global industry event, ranging from 5G to artificial intelligence (AI).

Active participation in the event also highlights how Chinese companies are open to global collaboration despite the intensified US moves, experts said.

As the largest MWC in the post-pandemic era, the four-day expo, which runs from February 26 to 29, has drawn a multitude of leading firms. The number of participating companies from China has about doubled this year to 300, with their latest products on display.

The MWC 2024 was packed with people at its opening on Monday morning, with Barcelona plunged into a traffic jam due to the influx of attendees, as a Global Times reporter observed on the spot.

A Chinese enterprise employee who has participated in the MWC for many years told the Global Times that compared with last year, this year is obviously more lively.  He observed that in Hall 3, the main exhibition hall of the MWC, there are more Chinese companies' booths, which indicate that Chinese companies are moving to the center of the stage.

According to the host of the MWC 2024, Huawei will be the largest exhibitor this year, and China Telecom and Alipay will make their debuts at the ICT technology show. In addition, other Chinese tech companies like Xiaomi, Honor and ZTE are attending the event.

 

A view of MWC 2024 held in Barcelona, Spain Photo: Cheng Zhong

During the event, Chinese PC maker Lenovo is unveiling two concept products including a smartphone with a flexible OLED screen and a laptop equipped with a transparent screen but without a physical keyboard, the company told the Global Times.

Huawei's highlight at this year's MWC unfolded on Monday, with the release of the 5G-A full series of products and solutions, including the global debut of Huawei's large-scale model in the communication field.

5G-A, or 5G-advanced, which is also known as 5.5G, represents a partial upgrade of 5G networks in terms of functionality and coverage. According to Huawei, 5G-A can provide a downlink speed of 10 Gbps, which is 10 times the previous 5G speed of 1 Gbps. Its objective is not to replace 5G but to address issues that 5G cannot achieve in certain specific scenarios before the commercialization of 6G, the company said.

Another Chinese exhibitor, ZTE, is also prioritizing the commercial use of 5G-A as a key focus for this year's event.

Other companies such as Honor and Xiaomi have already taken the lead in releasing their latest products on the sidelines of the MWC.

For example, Honor's focus at the MWC is on AI. It has unveiled a comprehensive AI strategy and introduced a range of intelligent devices including the Honor MagicBook 16 Pro and the Honor Pad 9, the company said in a press release sent to the Global Times on Monday.

Notably, the Honor MagicBook 16 Pro is the brand's first AI PC at the MWC, a collaborative product with Android, Microsoft and Intel bringing new changes and delivering an efficient productivity experience, according to the company.

Moreover, the company is officially launching the Porsche Design version of the Honor Magic V2 globally at the MWC, enriching its offerings to global users.

Experts said that more and more Chinese technology manufacturers are moving to the center of the international stage, and the MWC is a good opportunity for them to go global.

Mohamed Hakim, a tech industry observer from the United Arab Emirates, told the Global Times that the MWC is a good window from which to observe the competitiveness of Chinese enterprises' telecom solutions and smartphones.

"I expect that Chinese companies will shine at the MWC this year, and their products and technologies will lead to more changes in the global market," said Hakim.

The MWC remains a platform for presenting cutting-edge applications.
"Chinese companies have consistently been an important driving force at the Barcelona exhibition, showcasing their commitment to globalization and leveraging development as a window to demonstrate China's openness, cooperation and win-win opportunities to Europe and the world," Ma Jihua, a veteran telecom observer, told the Global Times on Monday.

Unlike the strong atmosphere of politically driven protectionism from the US, which resulted in the absence of some Chinese companies at 'the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas in January, the MWC is presented to the world with openness for cooperation, not competition, Chinese experts said.

Despite intensified pressure from the US in recent years, Chinese companies maintain their center stage at this year's MWC, showcasing new technologies at the forefront of the industry. This shows that the international cooperation strategy of Chinese companies has not changed, nor has their ability for innovation and openness to collaboration, Ma said.