The 21st China Beijing International High-tech Expo in Beijing (CHITEC) closed on May 20, producing 15.69 billion yuan (US$2.46 billion) worth of contracts in collaboration projects.
The four-day event was a showcase for a wide range of high-tech products, from major scientific and technological achievements to smart home appliances. The expo has attracted more than 200,000 attendees, including 36 overseas delegations from three international organizations and 29 countries and regions, as well as 29 provincial and municipal delegations from around China.
The expo highlighted a large number of national achievements, headlined by the underwater glider Sea-wing, China's first polar fixed-wing aircraft Snow Eagle 601, and the polar expedition vessel Xuelong 2.
The event also demonstrated Beijing as China's center of technology and innovation. Large-scale facilities and an interdisciplinary research platform in Huairou Science City have laid a foundation for major original scientific research outputs. The establishment of research and development institutes in Zhongguancun, such as the Beijing Academy of Quantum Information Sciences, Beijing Graphene Institute, Beijing Institute of Big Data Research, led to a breakthrough in forward-looking basic research.
Traces of industrial upgrading and innovation contributed by the application of artificial intelligence could also be found at the expo. On the show floor were various types of robots with specialized capabilities, serving as industrial robots, special robots and service robots.
With the aid of artificial intelligence, traditional industries have taken on a new look. This year's high-tech expo has set up a section to exhibit achievements of the combination of information and industry as well as intelligent technology equipment in the coal industry. Achievements from large corporations such as the National Energy Group and the China Coal Energy Group have revealed that the development of coal industry is advancing towards a digital, networked and intelligent direction.
Moreover, green technology and green products can be seen everywhere at this year's expo. BAIC BJEV, an electric vehicle unit of Beijing Automotive Group, has exhibited a series of new energy technologies. They included the plug-in hybrid electric vehicle, fuel cell technology, and the next-generation distributed drive electric vehicle chassis. Many enterprises from Zhongguancun also displayed a group of advanced innovative products and overall solutions in the area of low-carbon energy.
According to reports, the next high-tech expo will be held from May 16 to 19, 2019.