By Zafar Hussain

BEIJING, July 4 (China Economic Net) – The 2026 Global Digital Economy Conference (GDEC) opened in Beijing on Thursday, bringing together officials, executives, scholars and technology companies to discuss digital-friendly cities and the next stage of the global digital economy.

Held from July 2 to 6 under the theme “Building a Digital-Friendly City: Inclusive Intelligence, Borderless Connectivity,” the conference includes an opening ceremony, a main forum on digital-friendly cities and thematic sessions on artificial intelligence, digital talent and industrial digitalization.

A concurrent Digital Economy Industry Expo is showcasing humanoid robots, large AI models and other digital technologies. Opening-day releases included the 2026 Global Digital Economy Lighthouse Casebook and the Global Digital-Friendly City Evaluation Guidelines, which offer reference frameworks for digital development.

Pakistani visitor Ahmad Shahzad told CEN the event could be useful for countries such as Pakistan as they look to expand IT exports, improve digital infrastructure and learn from smart-city practices.

He said platforms such as GDEC provide opportunities to observe new technologies, meet potential partners and better understand digital-economy trends shaping regional cooperation.

Since its launch in 2021, GDEC has attracted more than 10,000 companies and 150,000 participants from over 200 countries and international organizations.