The 2026 World Internet Conference (WIC) Asia-Pacific Summit opened in China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) on Monday morning.

The two-day summit is themed "Digital and Intelligent Empowerment for Innovative Development: Jointly Building a Community with a Shared Future in Cyberspace." 

The summit highlights innovation in technology across the Asia-Pacific region, aiming to transcend geographic boundaries and promote global digital innovation and technological exchange to a new level.

Besides an opening ceremony and a main forum, the summit features six sub-forums on AI security and governance, AI for better life, digitalization and dissemination of classic texts, innovation and application of AI agent, digital and intelligent health, and digital finance. 

Political and business leaders, representatives of international organizations, and experts and scholars from around the world are gathering to exchange views on cutting-edge internet topics and regional digital cooperation, injecting new momentum and creating new advantages for the development of the Asia-Pacific region.

Innovative format and agenda

This is the second consecutive year the summit has been held in the HKSAR. With a focus on digital intelligence and innovation-driven development, the summit is expected to facilitate the role of AI and related technologies in promoting sustainable socioeconomic growth across the region and ensuring that benefits reach people worldwide, including the Global South.

The main forum this year will be integrated with the Distinguished Contributors Gala. Distinguished individuals and companies who have made significant contributions to global internet development will share insights and practices on promoting the vision of building a community with a shared future in cyberspace.

The six sub-forums, which expand digital intelligence discussions into various industries and aspects of daily life, will reflect the summit's responsiveness to emerging trends in the internet and AI sectors and its commitment to addressing the needs of different countries, especially the developing ones.

An advanced training course on AI and cybersecurity capabilities and an AI security thematic salon will be held, equipping government officials and digital security professionals from the Asia-Pacific region and other countries with enhanced AI capabilities.

The summit will also release a series of reports on the three themes of AI for public welfare, digital finance and AI governance, showcasing cutting-edge exploration and insights on AI empowering society.

Hong Kong's innovation edge

Sun Dong, secretary for innovation, technology and industry of the HKSAR government, highlighted Hong Kong's unique position as a launchpad between the Chinese mainland and the world. He noted that Hong Kong serves as an important platform for mainland companies expanding abroad, by leveraging its international resources and networks to access global markets.

Citing international rankings, Sun noted that Hong Kong rose to fourth place globally in the 2025 IMD World Digital Competitiveness Ranking, placing third in technology, which reaffirms its status as a significant economy in terms of global digital competitiveness.

Besides, the Shenzhen-Hong Kong-Guangzhou innovation cluster ranked first globally in the Global Innovation Index 2025 top 100 clusters, reflecting the high international recognition of the innovative capacity of the area. Hong Kong secured the top position in Asia in the 2025 World Talent Ranking. These achievements underscore Hong Kong's strengths in technology, innovation and talent development.

In recent years, the HKSAR government has also been actively promoting the construction of international innovation centers. It is accelerating the development of three major innovation and technology hubs in the Northern Metropolis, supported with HK$30 billion (about $3.8 billion).

Hosting the summit again this year will strengthen Hong Kong's global networks and its role as a "super connector," attracting top-tier enterprises and talents to drive development in the Asia-Pacific region's digital economy, said Sun.