Chongqing – The 19th Meeting of the Chongqing Mayor's International Economic Advisory Council (CMIA), held on September 25–26, brought together leaders from 21 Fortune 500 companies across 11 countries to share insights and boost Chongqing’s push for high-level opening and quality growth.
The 19th Meeting of the Chongqing Mayor's International Economic Advisory Council was held on September 25–26 with the theme "Building a Hub for AI Applications to Power High-Quality Industrial Development." (Photo/CMIA)
With the theme “Building a Hub for AI Applications to Power High-Quality Industrial Development,” this year’s council featured 30 advisory firms. Among them was Adient, a global automotive parts maker with 200 facilities in 29 countries, joining the panel for the first time as a long-term partner of top carmakers.
Earlier this year, Adient inaugurated its upgraded China Technical Center in Chongqing, now one of the company's largest and most advanced research and development bases worldwide. Its inclusion in CMIA added new perspectives and vitality to this year's discussions.
At a press conference on September 26, Zhang Yongwu, director of the Chongqing Municipal Commission of Commerce, described CMIA as both a high-level think tank and a practical platform for international cooperation. He emphasized that the council not only provides forward-looking ideas but also helps generate tangible outcomes by promoting collaborative projects, creating wisdom, and cooperation.
Advisors presented 71 suggestions, with a particular focus on harnessing artificial intelligence to create new industrial strengths. They encouraged Chongqing to establish a systematic framework for AI applications, noting the technology's rapid evolution and wide-ranging influence on industries and daily life.
To that end, they suggested launching an intelligent manufacturing application pilot project in partnership with multinational firms, local AI enterprises, and research institutions, to develop flagship "AI + manufacturing" projects that can be scaled and replicated.
Talent development was another key focus. As China’s education and job markets evolve, advisors emphasized that attracting and training skilled professionals is vital for an AI-driven economy. They called for stronger research infrastructure, multi-level training systems, and closer collaboration between industry, academia, and research.
Deepening open cooperation was another major theme. Advisors suggested creating shared platforms to attract global resources, building an “AI+” international innovation hub, and establishing joint labs to speed up AI’s integration with traditional industries. The goal is to foster industrial clusters with true global competitiveness.
The meeting also delivered a number of practical outcomes. Several multinational advisory companies took the opportunity to advance new cooperation agreements in Chongqing. Signify announced plans to expand collaboration on green and intelligent urban lighting systems, while Jardine Matheson will move forward with the construction of the Central MixC project.
Other companies, including AT&S, Hitachi Energy, SK Group, and Adient, expressed strong interest in deepening their investments in Chongqing.