Xi’an Accelerates Digital Economy Ambitions as Western Digital Economy Expo Delivers Record Project Agreements
XI’AN, China, July 3 — China’s western city of Xi’an is intensifying efforts to position itself as a regional centre for digital innovation after the 7th Western Digital Economy Expo concluded with a record number of investment and cooperation agreements aimed at expanding the city’s technology ecosystem.
Held under the theme “Digital Convergence Revitalizes the Silk Road, Smart Innovation Shapes the West’s Future,” the event attracted government officials, technology companies and international delegations, highlighting Xi’an’s growing role in China’s digital transformation strategy and its ambition to strengthen digital collaboration with overseas partners.
Organisers said the exhibition brought together representatives from more than 30 Chinese cities alongside delegations from countries including Singapore, South Korea, Thailand and Cambodia.
A total of 34 major cooperation projects were signed during the event, marking the highest number of agreements recorded since the exhibition was first introduced.
The latest edition also introduced a new international engagement platform dedicated to supporting digital economy companies seeking overseas expansion.
The initiative reflects Xi’an’s evolving strategy of not only attracting technology investment but also helping locally developed digital capabilities reach international markets.
As part of that effort, participants witnessed the release of the Silk Road Cross-Border Data Flow and Operations White Paper, a document intended to promote more standardised approaches to digital trade and cross-border data governance among economies participating in the Belt and Road Initiative.
Industry representatives also endorsed the GEO Industry Standard Self-Regulatory Convention, an initiative designed to encourage responsible and compliant development of cross-border digital business activities.
The agreements and policy initiatives underscore Xi’an’s broader objective of becoming one of western China’s leading digital economy centres.
Local authorities said core digital economy industries generated approximately 129 billion yuan in economic output during 2025, representing around 9.28 per cent of the city’s gross domestic product.
To sustain future growth, Xi’an has continued investing in digital infrastructure through initiatives covering communications networks, cloud computing, computing capacity, data services and cybersecurity.
Officials said these investments are intended to strengthen collaboration between government agencies, businesses and public service providers while supporting future industrial digitalisation.
Beyond infrastructure, Xi’an is promoting innovation through application-driven development.
Authorities have identified 303 digital application scenarios spanning sectors including smart tourism, extended reality (XR), renewable energy and other emerging industries to encourage wider commercial adoption of advanced technologies.
The city has also expanded support for research and industrial development by establishing specialised technology centres focused on areas such as open-source semiconductor technologies, artificial intelligence algorithms and industrial software.
These facilities are expected to strengthen the entire innovation pipeline, from scientific research through to large-scale commercial deployment.
Alongside research investment, Xi’an continues building a diversified technology business ecosystem.
Support measures include innovation funding, targeted industrial policies and enterprise development programmes aimed at attracting established technology companies while nurturing high-growth small and medium-sized enterprises.
Major industry players, including Huawei and JD.com, have established a presence in the city, contributing to a broader ecosystem that combines multinational corporations with emerging domestic innovators.
Looking ahead, Xi’an plans to further expand its position as a centre for digital technology research, advanced manufacturing and next-generation digital applications.
City officials said they are encouraging greater international participation by inviting companies involved in big data, artificial intelligence, cloud computing and related digital industries to collaborate in Xi’an’s expanding innovation ecosystem.
As digital technologies continue reshaping regional economic development, the city is positioning itself not only as an important technology hub in western China but also as a growing gateway for international cooperation along the modern Digital Silk Road.
