An exhibitor demonstrates a robotic dog during the Digital Economy Industry Expo 2026 at the China National Convention Center in Beijing, capital of China, July 2, 2026. Under the theme "Building a digital-friendly city: Inclusive Intelligence, Borderless Connectivity," the 2026 Global Digital Economy Conference opened here on Thursday. The conference consists of one opening ceremony, one main forum titled "Global Dialogue on Digital-Friendly Cities," multiple thematic forums, and year-round series of events, responding to the transformative changes brought about by technological innovation in the digital era. The Digital Economy Industry Expo 2026 is held concurrently during the conference. (Photo/Xinhua)

Beijing - The 2026 Global Digital Economy Conference kicked off in Beijing on Thursday, drawing corporate executives, business council representatives, and scholars from home and abroad, as well as minister-level officials from Kazakhstan, Colombia and Chad.

At the opening ceremony, the Global Digital Economy City Alliance released the 2026 Global Digital Economy Cities Report, which examines how digital technologies and cities shape each other and underscores that digital technology must be tangible to residents, useful for businesses and accessible to society.

Also unveiled was the 2026 Global Digital Economy Lighthouse Casebook, a joint publication by the International Telecommunication Union, the International Trade Centre and the Global Digital Economy City Alliance.

It features 13 "lighthouse cases" from cities including Beijing, Jakarta, Madrid and Istanbul, covering six areas: collaborative digital urban governance, inclusive public digital services, climate-resilient infrastructure, digitally enabled livelihood improvement, low-carbon smart mobility and digital inclusion for vulnerable groups.

Running through Sunday, the conference also hosts a series of special topic sessions covering artificial intelligence, digital talent development and industrial digitalization.

Since its inception in 2021, the event has drawn over 10,000 companies and 150,000 participants from more than 200 countries and international organizations, with 500 outcomes published to date, according to the organizing committee.