Photo:Chen Xia/GT

Around 40 diplomats from 28 countries attended an industry cooperation forum in Shanghai on Friday, eager to engage in in-depth discussions with leading Chinese enterprises in cutting-edge fields such as Brain-Computer Interface (BCI), robots, and green energy.

The participants had engaging Q&A sessions, with the opportunity to pose questions and gain valuable insights into the latest developments in these rapidly evolving sectors.

The event served as a platform for knowledge sharing, networking, and partnership building, laying the foundation for future cooperation between Chinese enterprises and their international counterparts.

"The business people in the UAE are interested in multiple technology sectors. It's a win-win relationship. They come to explore which areas they can collaborate and work on together. We have seen the volume increasing over time," UAE Ambassador to China Hussain bin Ibrahim Al Hammadi told the Global Times after the forum on Friday.

Chatchai Viriyavejakul, the Thai Ambassador to China, told the Global Times that Thailand is seeking to attract more investment from Chinese electric vehicle (EV) companies, as Thailand plans to become a regional hub for EVs in Southeast Asia.

"We want to reduce our reliance on natural gas and conventional energy. EVs are one of the options. Chinese EVs are popular in Thailand. I have seen a lot of Great Wall Motors and BYD vehicles in Thailand," he said.

Another area of collaboration that Thai companies are interested in is medical innovation, such as robotics and AI used in rehabilitation.

"China is advancing in AI and IT technologies. I believe these are areas that many Thai companies would like to work on," he added.

The diplomats also visited the Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Center, new-energy company Envision Group, the Yuyuan Garden and the Bund Finance Center during their tour on Friday.

Shanghai is stepping up efforts to build itself into an international economic, financial, trade, shipping, and science and technology innovation center, as well as a global digital city.

Shanghai achieved GDP of 4.72 trillion yuan ($650 billion) in 2023, maintaining its leading position as China's largest economic hub and ranking among the top global cities.