A file photo of Huawei CEO Ren Zhengfei File Photo: IC

Isolation leads to backwardness, and Huawei needs to learn from the US in terms of openness and inclusiveness, Ren Zhengfei, Huawei's founder and CEO said during a recent seminar ahead of an international programming contest.

At the seminar held on October 14 ahead of this year's International Collegiate Programming Contest (ICPC), Ren addressed questions from participants from various countries, including Japan, France, Romania, and the US, among others, and shared insights on topics such as education, artificial intelligence (AI), great power competition, youth entrepreneurship, and business development.

Ren's remarks were made public on Thursday on the ICPC's official website.

While responding to a question from a US participant about how Huawei achieved its technological achievements despite the impact of competition among major countries, Ren said that in spite of competition in the world, theories are open because scientific research has no national boundaries, while businesses might not publicly reveal their projects and technologies.

Ren pointed to the transformation of the US over the past two hundred years from a backward country into a global powerhouse in science and technology can be attributed to its openness and inclusiveness. He mentioned that global talent congregated in the US, bringing out cultural, social, and technological diversity that has fueled the nation's rise to prominence. 

"The US has set an example for all nations and companies worldwide by demonstrating the necessity of openness; if one closes off, it risks falling behind. Huawei should learn from the US's openness and inclusiveness, " Ren noted.

Regarding the sanctions imposed on Huawei by the US in recent years, Ren pointed out that the majority of companies are not subject to US sanctions. "Open and innovation are the mainstream in the world," he said, adding that companies should use the US' good technologies and tools, but Huawei cannot use them so it has no option but to make its own tools.

Huawei has been continuously strengthening its capacities of technological innovation and independence in recent years. On October 12, the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce released its 2024 ranking of the Top 500 private enterprises in China, with Huawei leading in R&D investment. 

As a leading domestic company in the digital technology sector, Huawei boasts an impressive portfolio of 49,406 valid patents, according to a recent industry report issued by Forbes China. The report pointed out that its strategic decision to foster open cooperation and mutual benefit has significantly propelled the prosperity of the entire technology industry.

Speaking of the development of AI during the seminar, Ren said "The world's shift toward AI is an unstoppable trend. With the advancement of various technologies such as chips and computing power, the advent of the intelligent era has been significantly accelerated...the pivotal turning point of our current era is the widespread application of AI."

Ren also showcased the practical applications of AI technologies during the talks, using Tianjin Port as a prime example. "In an area spanning over a hundred square kilometers in the port—covering shipping, transportation, and customs—there is almost no human presence," he said. 

Last year, Ren also participated in the seminar during the ICPC Challenge Championship Powered by Huawei. 

Global Times