Industry expert: AI productivity, China-ASEAN collaboration shaping future

In this interview, Dr. Chee-Fai Tan, president of the ASEAN Federation of Smart Industry and deputy vice-chancellor of Kuala Lumpur University of Science and Technology, discusses how emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) are reshaping global industrial development.

As China advances its 15th Five-Year Plan and promotes its "AI Plus" initiative, the focus is shifting from technological breakthroughs to real-world industrial application. Tan argues that the key challenge lies not in invention, but in translating innovation into productivity.

He explains how AI and robotics are transforming manufacturing, highlights the importance of digital infrastructure, and points to growing China-ASEAN cooperation as an important driver of industrial upgrading.

The discussion also explores practical pathways — from joint innovation platforms to talent development — for building a more resilient, inclusive and future-ready industrial ecosystem across the region.