BEIJING, June 18 (China Economic Net) - The Global Expansion Forum of the 2026 Beijing CBD Forum Annual Conference, held alongside the annual conference of the "Harmony for High-Quality Global Expansion" initiative, welcomed 18 new service partners on June 16, further expanding a support network designed to help Chinese companies grow in overseas markets.

Hosted by the Beijing Association of Enterprises with Foreign Investment (BAEFI) and co-organized by Alibaba Cloud, the forum was held under the theme "AI-Driven Manufacturing for Global Growth." More than 400 representatives from government agencies, foreign diplomatic and trade organizations, manufacturing companies, technology firms and professional service providers attended the event to discuss how artificial intelligence can accelerate the internationalization of China's manufacturing sector.

At the partner recognition ceremony, the BAEFI announced the second batch of addition of organizations representing business associations, overseas free trade zones, legal service providers and international enterprises.

According to the organizers, the newly joined 18 partners broadens the platform's service capabilities across legal, technology, financial, industrial and consulting sectors, with the aim of providing more comprehensive one-stop support for companies pursuing international expansion.

Following the partner recognition ceremony, the forum featured two keynote speeches that explored how artificial intelligence can empower Chinese manufacturers to expand globally, combining industry insights with practical technology solutions.

Xing Houyuan, a senior expert with the Global Alliance for Trade in Services and former director of the China Outsourcing Institute under the Ministry of Commerce, delivered a speech titled Opportunities and Challenges for Chinese Manufacturing Going Global in the AI Era. Chen Wei, vice president of Alibaba Cloud's Public Cloud Business and general manager of its Global Expansion Business Unit, followed with a presentation on how Alibaba Cloud is supporting the global expansion of Chinese manufacturers through AI-enabled technologies.

Participants also exchanged views on topics including AI-enabled manufacturing, international market opportunities, industrial collaboration and practical strategies for global expansion.

The organizers said the platform will continue to launch sector-focused events covering areas such as new energy and industrial robotics, while organizing business delegations to Germany, ASEAN countries and Latin America for market visits and industry exhibitions. It also plans to host international entrepreneurship competitions, AI industry forums, cross-border technology seminars and business matchmaking events in collaboration with government agencies and industry associations in China and overseas.