Night view of Pazhou area[Photo/Haizhu government]

A forum focusing on digital economy and artificial intelligence (AI) was held in Pazhou area, Guangzhou’s Haizhu district on Jun 28.

Guest speakers including industry experts, Rootcloud CEO, and government department chiefs shared their views on issues such as the integrated development of digital economy and industries, the development of the Greater Bay Area, urban planning and new infrastructure.

This forum marked the official debut of Pazhou think tank that’s dedicated to expanding exchange and cooperation channels for as well as providing decision-making support to the high-quality development of Pazhou Artificial Intelligence and Digital Economy Pilot Zone.

AI and digital economy have become Pazhou’s development priorities since 2015. It aims to transform itself into an innovative highland combining digital economy, exhibition industry and corporate headquarter economy.

By the end of June, over 30,000 enterprises had settled in Pazhou pilot zone, where the integration of digital economy and industries shows a sound development trend.

To further promote its development, Pazhou should take advantage of the preferential policies and investment made by higher level government, said Zhou Suhong, a professor with the School of Geography and Planning at Sun Yat-sen University.

The area has inherent advantages such as favorable external conditions brought by the development of the Greater Bay Area and the master policy planning to build itself into a global highland for technological innovation and a world-class digital economy demonstration zone, Zhou considered.

Zhou also offered three pieces of advice for the area: develop its exhibition industry, which is the window of manufacturing industry and the forefront of industrial digitalization; support finance and insurance industries that serve the development of hi-tech industrial parks; and expand digitalization and R&D in the preliminarily formed starting zone of AI and digital economy.

At the forum, He Dongdong, chief executive officer of Rootcloud Technology Co Ltd, an industrial internet service provider based in Guangzhou, pointed out that the first half of a successful digital economy roll-out involves the rapid digitization of the tertiary sector while the second half hinges on the rapid digitization of the manufacturing industry.

According to He, industrial Internet will be a pivot point for the future development of Pazhou, as well as a breakthrough for the transformation of Guangdong's manufacturing industry.