Summer Davos 2026 in Dalian Highlights Innovation and Green Growth

The 2026 Summer Davos forum, officially known as the World Economic Forum's Annual Meeting of the New Champions, is being held in the northeastern Chinese port city of Dalian from Tuesday to Thursday. The event has attracted over 1,700 participants from more than 90 countries and regions to explore how the world can navigate global challenges while creating new opportunities for growth.

Outside the conference venue, fleets of electric cars, autonomous buses, and hydrogen-powered coaches are transporting delegates, showcasing the themes of technological innovation, green transformation, and international cooperation. Under the theme "Innovating at Scale," discussions will cover topics including China's economic trajectory and translating technological advances into real economic benefits. Artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics feature prominently, with sessions on personal AI agents, one-person companies (OPCs), and humanoid robots in factories.

China's AI industry is expanding rapidly, with over 6,000 AI companies in 2025 and core AI industry value exceeding 1.2 trillion yuan (about 176.1 billion U.S. dollars). Chinese AI firms attracted about 13.9 billion U.S. dollars in global venture capital investment in 2025, ranking third worldwide. The forum will also address challenges posed by AI, including unequal access, privacy and security concerns, and information overload.

Green development is another key focus. New energy vehicles account for more than 80 percent of the forum's transportation fleet, and the Dalian International Conference Center runs entirely on green electricity, using seawater-source heat pump technology to cut energy consumption by over 30 percent. Dalian Mayor Li Qiang highlighted the city's dedication to a clean, energy-saving approach. The city has expanded its clean-energy industrial chain, with over 50 enterprises and research institutions in hydrogen production, storage, transportation, fuel cells, and applications.

The forum aims to foster dialogue on navigating an increasingly complex world. World Economic Forum President and CEO Alois Zwinggi stated, "At a time of economic uncertainty, geopolitical tension and rapid technological change, this meeting is an opportunity to focus on practical solutions." China's experience and solutions remain in the spotlight, with continued foreign investment: over 8,000 overseas-funded enterprises increased investment in China in 2025, up over 10 percent year on year, and over 3,000 more from January to April 2026.

China's 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030), rolled out in March 2026, underscores its commitment to global growth. Gao Weiqi, an official with the National Development and Reform Commission, said, "China's healthy and stable development will inject greater certainty and new momentum into the world economy." Established by the World Economic Forum in 2007, the Summer Davos forum is held annually in China, alternating between Tianjin and Dalian. According to a report by Xinhua, the event continues to serve as a platform for international cooperation and innovation.