Officials attend a press conference on World Internet Conference Asia-Pacific Summit in Beijing on March 17, 2025. The summit will be held in Hong Kong on April 14-15, 2025. Photo: Liu Caiyu/GT

Hong Kong will host the World Internet Conference (WIC) Asia-Pacific Summit for the first time on April 14-15, focusing on AI advancements and digital transformation, with participation from UN representatives and government officials from multiple countries.  

Speaking at a press conference in Beijing on Monday, WIC Secretary General Ren Xianliang noted that while major developed countries are accelerating AI deployment, developing countries have yet to fully enjoy the benefits brought by this technological revolution.

Ren said due to advantages in technology, capital and talent, developed countries in the Asia-Pacific region are better positioned to leverage AI for industrial upgrades, enhance product competitiveness, and drive economic growth. 

In contrast, emerging markets and developing economies struggle with technology absorption, infrastructure and talent gaps, limiting their ability to fully harness AI's potential for economic growth, Ren noted.

Themed of "Integration of AI and Digital Technologies Shaping the Future - Jointly Building a Community with a Shared Future in Cyberspace," this year's WIC Asia-Pacific Summit will focus on topics such as large language models, digital finance, security and governance in the digital intelligence era.

The summit aims to serve as a platform for communication and cooperation, fostering digital transformation, strengthen regional collaboration and policy coordination, continuously explore new opportunities and markets and bridge the digital divide, Ren said.

WIC aims to leverage Hong Kong's unique role as a global bridge to foster dialogue and collaboration across regions, industries and cultures.

Secretary for Hong Kong Innovation, Technology and Industry Bureau Sun Dong emphasized the city's role as a global hub for innovation and technology collaboration, adding that Hong Kong will help mainland enterprises expand into emerging overseas markets.

Hong Kong has made rapid strides in AI development. In February, the Hong Kong Generative AI Research and Development Center released its first large language model, HKGAI V1, and plans to establish Hong Kong AI Research and Development Institute aiming to promote the application of research outcomes, according to media reports.

To further drive innovation and technology development, Hong Kong will jointly organize the annual innovation event InnoEX from April 13-16. A series of exhibitions and business exchange activities are expected to be held, Sun noted.