Alibaba to equip Macao with 'City Brain'

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Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba signed a strategic partnership framework agreement with China's Macao Special Administrative Region to promote the "smart city" development of this region, the firm announced on Friday.

The two sides will launch cooperation mainly on transportation, tourism, medical service, comprehensive urban management and personnel training utilizing the company's cloud computing and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies.

Group photo of participants at the signing ceremony of a strategic partnership framework agreement between Alibaba and Macao. /Alibaba Photo

Spanning four years, this project will proceed in two phases.

In the first phase lasting from this year to 2019, the two sides are scheduled to complete the establishment of a cloud computing center and foster the process of smart tourism, transportation, medical service and e-government affairs in the region.

With the second phase starting from July 2019 to June 2021, they will continue to promote infrastructure construction as well as more collaborations on environmental protection, customs clearance, and economic forecast.

Alibaba has made proven achievements in smart city development, one of which is "City Brain" project launched in east China's Hangzhou city where the company's headquarter is located.

Wang Jian, chairman of the Technology Steering Committee of Alibaba Group, introduces the City Brain project at the 2016 Computing Conference in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province on Oct. 13. /Alibaba Photo

"It's a great honor for Alibaba to support the Macao government to realize its vision of a smart city. Alibaba Cloud's big data and deep learning technologies have helped several Chinese cities to build 'City Brain' and improve residents' well-being," said Simon Hu, senior vice president of Alibaba Group and president of Alibaba Cloud.

"With Alibaba's advanced technologies and abundant experiences, we are confident to support the government to implement the construction of a smart Macao, and making it a model of a smart city in the Asia-Pacific region," he added.

The preliminary achievements can be expected in mid-2018.

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