Henry Patricio Azurmendi Toledo / APEC Participant from Chile:

“We are very happy to be here, and also, of course, we want to develop these kind of technologies in our countries.”

The 32nd APEC Small and Medium Enterprises Ministerial Meeting recently held a site visit in Guangzhou.

Representatives from the United States, Chile, Malaysia, South Korea and Hong Kong, China, visited innovation hubs for small and medium-sized enterprises across the city.

At the first stop, they experienced a game using markerless motion-capture technology, where virtual characters could be controlled simply through body movements.

Henry Patricio Azurmendi Toledo / APEC Participant from Chile:

“Guangzhou is a very innovative city. For this reason, we are trying to learn about these kind of cities, these kind of innovations.”

At the Haixinsha Omni-Space Intelligent Experience Center, representatives watched humanoid robots perform martial arts and play a four-hand piano piece.

At XPeng Technology Park, they explored intelligent electric vehicles, autonomous driving and flying cars, gaining a deeper understanding of China’s industrial transformation.

Viviantie binti Sarjuni / APEC Participant from Malaysia:

“We have to realise that if you don’t go into AI and technology, you’ll be left behind. And that is the danger of ignoring AI, technology and innovation, so we must learn from China. Maybe some technology transfer to Malaysia.”

Chan Park Sun / Assistant Director-General of Trade and Industry, Hong Kong, China, APEC Participant:

“These visits give us a valuable opportunity to exchange ideas and learn from one another. The development of the Greater Bay Area is built on collaboration between cities.

It is worth considering whether this model could be applied in other economies. Cities across APEC can build on each other’s strengths, complement one another and create win-win outcomes. There are many valuable lessons to be learned from this experience.”