China’s AI technology

As the World Bank, IMF and UN warn of global economic uncertainty and a widening development deficit, the world asks who can create more development opportunities. Three windows into China’s economy offer the answer: Yiwu’s trade signals a booming global supply chain, Chinese spirits attract global capital, and China’s AI integrates into daily life and builds a solid industrial foundation—all translating China’s economic certainty into global opportunities.

Yiwu, China: The World’s Supermarket, Global Trade

On February 28, the world’s largest small-commodity distribution center—the China Yiwu International Trade Mart and the newly opened Yiwu Global Digital Trade Center—opened for business simultaneously, with over 80,000 merchants welcoming customers.  

According to the Securities Times, on the first day of reopening, the market’s opening rate reached 97.4 percent, up 2.3 percentage points from the previous year; total foot traffic hit 291,000, a year-on-year increase of 23.8 percent. The bustling business of “global buying and selling” was once again underway. 

More noteworthy than the figures themselves is the underlying structure.

The first shift: The map of buyer origins is being redrawn.

Multiple merchants report a significant rebound in the number of buyers from the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and Africa, while the recovery of customers from Europe and the US has been relatively slower. This shift precisely mirrors the changing landscape of global trade—countries along the Belt and Road are filling the demand gap left by developed markets.

The second shift: The technological content of goods is rising.

At Hongtaiyang Technology’s store, eight hotel robots were sold within the first hour of opening. At the neighboring booth of “AI Curious Cat,” buyers queued up to experience companion robots; this model achieved sales exceeding 4 million yuan in just two months. AI translators, smart wearable devices, drones—these tech products occupy the most prominent positions.

The third shift: Trade methods are going digital.

Sail Technology’s self-developed AI translator supports real-time translation across more than 140 languages. The owner of Litai Toys uses digital human live streaming to sell products to over 130 countries. “Running a global business with just one mobile phone” is no longer just a slogan.

 Behind these shifts lies the transformation underway in Yiwu: upgrading from a “window to the world’s factory” to a “digital hub for global trade.”

At a time of uncertain global demand, Yiwu offers its answer with a 97.4 percent reopening rate. As one economist specializing in China’s foreign trade put it: “Yiwu’s resilience isn’t just that business continues—it’s that business has upgraded.”

Chinese Spirits: Eastern Culture, Global Taste

For a long time, Chinese baijiu held no advantage among the world’s seven major spirits categories. In recent years, through exploration by prestigious distilleries like Moutai, Wuliangye, Fenjiu, and Xifeng, the globalization of Chinese spirits has undergone a transformation blending product, taste, and culture integration.

Path One: Breaking Through via High-End Integration

In its international push, Wuliangye is exploring the fusion of premium dining and spirits.

In 2024, Wuliangye entered a global partnership with Michelin. By early January 2026, they had co-hosted 26 high-end events.

Beyond its Michelin collaboration, Wuliangye is also building its own high-end dining venues. In April 2025, its first overseas licensed experiential restaurant opened in Tokyo, Japan—the Michelin-starred “Piao Xiang” became Wuliangye’s inaugural overseas licensed establishment. In September 2025, the Wuliangye Grand Restaurant officially opened in Bugis, Singapore.

By moving from selling products to opening restaurants, Wuliangye is positioning Chinese spirits as part of an international high-end lifestyle.

But “Chinese baijiu” is not the only global business card for Chinese alcohol. Chinese green plum wine is also capturing global attention.

Path Two: Integrating with Global Tastes

Chinese green plum wine is finding its way onto dining tables around the world.

At the Téléthon charity gala, chefs from Le Cordon Bleu France raised glasses of Meijian Green Plum Wine in a toast with guests.

At the event, Patrick TERRIEN, former president and executive chef of Le Cordon Bleu Paris, commented: “Meijian Green Plun Wine is very special. It can be enjoyed as an apéritif, a post-meal digestif, or paired with main courses and desserts. It has a remarkably inclusive palate, lending diverse appeal to its pairing with French cuisine.”

Meijian green plum wine has successfully entered mainstream restaurants, bars, and supermarkets in 33 countries around the world. On February 10, 2026, the Associated Press published “Unlocking 2026 Beverage Consumption Trends and Showcasing the World’s Top 10 Emerging Alcoholic Beverage Brands,” noting Meijian Green Plum Wine as China’s leading brand in the new green plum wine category and the world’s second-largest green plum wine brand overall.

 Path Three: The Dual-Track Practice of Chinese Spirits 

Though Wuliangye and Meijian pursue seemingly different global paths, both point to the same reality: the globalization of Chinese spirits is evolving from “individual forays” to “diverse coexistence.” 

This capability for tiered breakthroughs is attracting global investors. Wuliangye is advancing its lower-alcohol baijiu products, while Meijian has achieved significant milestones—both are aligning with the global trend toward lower-alcohol options. In February 2026, UBS explicitly identified China’s low-alcohol beverage segment as a new growth area in its 2026 China consumer sector outlook. For global investors, China’s new low-alcohol spirits market is a strategic battleground not to be missed.

China’s AI: Computing Power Competition, Global Rivalry 

In early 2026, China’s AI technology developed rapidly, and today, AI intelligence has integrated into the lives of Chinese people. 

During the 2026 Two Sessions of China, the Chinese government explicitly stated its intention to “fully implement the ‘AI+’ action plan,” using artificial intelligence to lead a transformation in scientific research paradigms and strengthening its integration with industrial development, cultural advancement, livelihood protection, and social governance.

The Computing Power Foundation: Intelligent Clusters Supporting the Industry’s Future

China has a globally leading computing power system: by late 2025, its intelligent computing power exceeded 1,053 EFLOPS with a 70%+ growth rate, ranking second worldwide. It has 8 national hubs, a 30,000-card AI cluster in Zhengzhou, and a 0.5ms-latency underwater data center in Shanghai. On Jan 6, 2026, Musk noted China will lead the world in AI computing, as its systemic advantages cover infrastructure, chips and transmission.

China’s AI Technical Path: A Different Logic from Silicon Valley

The logic in Silicon Valley has been an arms race in parameter scale.China’s logic is an efficiency revolution combining algorithmic optimization and hardware synergy. 

In terms of ecosystem strategy, China is wholeheartedly embracing open source, lowering the barriers to innovation, and accelerating the integration of technology into all industries. Qwen and DeepSeek are prime examples.

This strategy is translating into global influence. Chinese companies like Huawei and Alibaba are developing open-source AI models, freely accessible and modifiable, allowing companies to build products without expensive licenses—a significant draw for African startups and innovation hubs. 

China’s AI story is one of systemic capability: vast application scenarios, a complete industrial chain, and sustained investment in infrastructure.

In Summary

Three windows point toward a single answer: The resilience of China’s economy is fundamentally a “shareable development capability”—one that keeps trade flowing, gives capital direction, and makes technology accessible.

This is not China’s isolated growth, but an opportunity shared with the world.