World Manufacturing Convention highlights Anhui's industrial rise

The 2026 World Manufacturing Convention opens on Sept. 20 in Hefei, Anhui province. [Photo provided to China.org.cn]

The 2026 World Manufacturing Convention opened Sunday in Hefei, capital of eastern China's Anhui province. The gathering drew business, academic, and industrial leaders from around the world to discuss emerging trends, cutting-edge technologies, and new models in the manufacturing sector.

Carlos Magarinos, global chairman of the Global Alliance of SMEs, said at the opening ceremony that artificial intelligence (AI), low-carbon and green technologies, and advanced materials are reshaping industrial landscape. 

He noted that Anhui is witnessing the rapid expansion of emerging industrial clusters, such as new energy vehicle (NEV) manufacturers and electronic information firms.

British Ambassador to China Peter Wilson echoed this sentiment, stating that Anhui sits at the core of industrial transformation driven by AI, robotics, and clean tech.

This local dynamism reflects broader growth: During the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025), Anhui's industrial revenue surged from 3.8 trillion yuan ($567 million) to 5.9 trillion yuan, jumping from 12th to fifth nationwide. In the first seven month of 2026, its value-added industrial output grew by 12.7% year on year.

Exhibitions at the convention brought these concepts to life. The smart NEV and robotics zones showcased deep integration of chips, software, and AI, offering tangible proof of the sector's digital and intelligent upgrade.

The convention also served as a launchpad for key reports. The reports revealed that the integration index of informatization and industrialization reached 67.1 in the first half of 2026, with AI application penetration in key scenarios hitting 34.2%. 

Additionally, the event yielded 946 preliminary cooperation projects with a total investment exceeding 400 billion yuan.

The robot and embodied intelligence exhibition area at the 2026 World Manufacturing Convention in Hefei, Anhui province. [Photo provided to China.org.cn]