At the recent APEC Digital and AI Ministerial meeting in Incheon, South Korea, leaders from Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation members cemented AI and digitalization as core pillars for sustainable economic growth. The milestone 2025 APEC Digital and AI Ministerial Statement, released in August, called for a human-centered approach that balances innovation with safety, trust and reliability.
In a joint session of APEC finance and structural reform ministers, officials highlighted the role of AI-driven digital finance. They noted how alternative credit assessments powered by AI are opening doors for small businesses, and urged fiscal investments in AI transformation to drive future economic engines and offset demographic headwinds.
AI Meets Industry in the Chinese mainland
While APEC sets the regional framework, the Chinese mainland is moving fast on its own AI initiatives. Zhang Qiliang, general manager at Xuzhou's XCMG Hanyun, calls 2025 "the first year of true implementation" for the "AI + Industrial Internet" concept. By fusing large AI models with deep industrial know-how, companies are processing vast unstructured data to spot equipment faults earlier and cut maintenance costs.
"Our goal is to turn data from a dormant asset into a flowing value that boosts productivity across factory floors," Zhang explains.
Powering a Greener Future
AI’s impact goes beyond machinery. In smart grids, AI algorithms sift through terabytes of load and output data to forecast renewable energy generation with high precision. This intelligence helps grid operators better integrate wind and solar power, reducing waste and enhancing stability.
On the environmental front, AI tools are tightening carbon emission monitoring. By rapidly identifying super-emitters and verifying reduction efforts, these applications support more effective climate action and bring a new level of transparency to carbon goals.
As APEC members chart a roadmap for AI-driven growth and the Chinese mainland accelerates practical deployments, a new era of digital transformation and sustainable development is dawning across the region.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
