The 2025 Land-Sea Economic Forum advances industrial cooperation between China and ASEAN. (Photo/Bridging News)
Chongqing - As China and Malaysia launch new five-year development plans and deepen their high-level strategic community with a shared future, the 2026 Land-Sea Economic Forum will open in Kuala Lumpur on July 30, marking a new chapter in bilateral cooperation.
Initiated by the Western China International Communication Organization and leading financial media, the forum connects Chongqing and western China with global partners in technology, industry and investment, while supporting Chinese companies’ international expansion.
Under the theme “Expanding the Silk Road Together: A New AI+ International Cooperation Paradigm,” this year’s forum will connect ASEAN and South Asia—including Singapore, Indonesia and Sri Lanka—with Gulf capital, building a regional platform to help companies expand globally.
As Chinese companies, especially those from Chongqing, expand overseas through technology, services and industrial chains, the forum will explore how China’s AI applications can meet Malaysian and ASEAN market needs, create profitable business models, and ensure compliance and security abroad.
The forum will bring together government and business leaders from China, Malaysia and other major ASEAN economies, alongside Arab League–affiliated organizations, sovereign wealth funds, technology firms, international logistics hubs, green finance platforms, Global South think tanks and Chinese companies expanding overseas.
Through keynote speeches and discussions, the forum will focus on AI globalization, cross-border finance and new energy vehicles, exploring ASEAN’s digital economy, new payment and capital-flow models, and cooperation in overseas investment and localized supply chains.
A closed-door matchmaking session will focus on overseas compliance, investment in Malaysia, and cooperation between the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor (ILSTC) and the Gulf region, turning forum discussions into practical business opportunities.
Building on the ILSTC, the closed-door meeting will explore logistics, infrastructure and port links between western China, Southeast Asia and the Gulf, seeking new models for regional connectivity and industrial cooperation.
Malaysian investment agencies, industry associations and leading companies will present projects and hold direct talks with Chinese firms on digital transformation, infrastructure and intelligent manufacturing, helping turn opportunities into concrete partnerships.
A panel discussion takes place at the 2024 Land-Sea Economic Forum. (Photo/Bridging News)
Since its launch in 2024, the Land-Sea Economic Forum has been held twice in Chongqing and Singapore, establishing itself as an international exchange platform focused on the global expansion of Chinese industries and economic cooperation between China and emerging markets.
The inaugural forum in 2024, themed “China, An Opportunity: New Era of Brand Globalization from Chongqing to the World,” brought together nearly 300 government and business representatives from 14 countries and regions, including Singapore, Germany, and Argentina.
The forum examined Asia’s growing role as a major engine of global economic growth, highlighting the opportunities created by regional economic integration, digital transformation, and industrial upgrading.
As an inland city connecting China’s eastern and western regions, Chongqing was highlighted as an important platform linking Chinese industries with global markets. Through the development of the ILSTC and other connectivity initiatives, Chongqing has continued to strengthen links between western China, Southeast Asia, and broader international markets, creating new opportunities for trade, logistics, and industrial cooperation.
The forum released the Research Report on Chinese Enterprises’ Overseas Development (2024), covering 23 emerging industries across four major sectors, including advanced manufacturing, information technology, and consumer industries.
At the 2025 Land-Sea Economic Forum on June 12, Kishore Mahbubani delivered a keynote speech on Navigating Uncertainty and Building a China–ASEAN Community with a Shared Future. (Photo/Bridging News)
The second forum in 2025, themed “Connectivity for Shared Success: Trends and Visions for Chinese Industries Expanding into Southeast Asia,” attracted more than 200 government and business representatives from China, Singapore, and other countries.
Building on discussions from the first forum, the event focused more specifically on Southeast Asia as a key destination for Chinese enterprises expanding overseas and explored how companies could move beyond market entry toward deeper industrial cooperation.
The forum took place amid rapidly strengthening economic ties between China and ASEAN. Discussions highlighted that Southeast Asia is no longer merely an export market for Chinese products but is increasingly becoming an important partner in manufacturing, investment, and regional supply chain development.
With its young population, growing digital economy, and expanding industrial capacity, ASEAN has become a major growth region, offering new opportunities for Chinese enterprises in areas such as advanced manufacturing, new energy vehicles, artificial intelligence, and digital services.
Digital transformation and emerging technologies were key topics. Discussions explored how artificial intelligence could support cross-border e-commerce, improve supply chain efficiency, and help enterprises better understand overseas consumers. Participants noted that AI-powered solutions are creating new ways for Chinese companies to enhance international marketing, customer service, and operational efficiency.
Financial connectivity was another major focus of the forum. Representatives discussed the importance of improving cross-border financial services, supporting investment cooperation, and creating more efficient mechanisms for enterprises expanding into regional markets.
The forum also examined opportunities in cultural industries and consumer markets, highlighting the growing influence of Chinese cultural products and digital content in Southeast Asia.
Through discussions on industrial collaboration, digital innovation, and financial cooperation, the second forum further strengthened its role as a platform connecting Chinese enterprises with Southeast Asian markets. It demonstrated the shift in China’s overseas expansion from product-based exports toward deeper engagement in regional economic ecosystems, laying the foundation for broader cooperation across Asia.
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