On October 16, the 2025 World Intelligent Connected Vehicles Conference (WICV 2025) opened in Beijing E-Town. Yin Li, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Secretary of the CPC Beijing Municipal Committee; Liu Wei, Secretary of Party Leadership Group and Minister of the Ministry of Transport (MOT); and Xin Guobin, Member of Party Leadership Group and Vice Minister of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), attended the Opening Ceremony and delivered speeches. Wan Gang, President of the China Association for Science and Technology (CAST), delivered a keynote report. Other distinguished attendees included Qi Yanjun, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee and Vice Minister for Daily Operations of the Ministry of Public Security (MPS); Jin Wei, Member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Beijing Municipal Committee and Vice Mayor of Beijing; Kim Yoon-duk, Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport of the ROK; Miguel Marques Gonçalves Manetelu, Minister of Transport and Communications of Timor-Leste; Tefera Derbew Yimam, Ambassador of Ethiopia to China; Hildegard Müller, President of the German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA); and Sigrid de Vries, Director General of the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA). The Opening Ceremony was moderated by Yin Yong, Deputy Secretary of the CPC Beijing Municipal Committee and Mayor of Beijing.

Yin Li emphasized that WICV aims to pool wisdom from all stakeholders and promote the safe adoption and application of intelligent connected vehicle (ICV) technologies. Beijing, as one of China’s key automotive industry hubs, features a vibrant innovation environment and a comprehensive automotive industry system. It took the lead in introducing regulations for autonomous vehicles, standardizing and strengthening their management, and promoting the development of smart infrastructure and ICV technologies. In the current and coming period, Beijing will actively build a highland for ICV industry development. The city is willing to work together with all stakeholders to advance innovation in key technologies, strengthen cooperation between automakers, universities and research institutions, co-develop open and shared innovation platforms, so as to drive more breakthroughs in core technologies. Efforts will be made to elevate the industry, including the construction of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei ICV Industrial Park (Technology Ecosystem Hub) and the creation of a world-class ICV industrial cluster. We aim to optimize the environment for industry development, improve industry standards and regulatory framework, support high-level, multi-scenario applications, strengthen management, ensure safety, and build a more favorable industry ecosystem. We will also promote international exchanges and cooperation, safeguard the resilience and stability of global industry and supply chains, encourage mutual recognition of technologies and talent development, with a view to fostering more pragmatic cooperation between Chinese and foreign automakers to achieve win-win development.

Liu Wei emphasized that the MOT has been thoroughly implementing the important instructions of General Secretary Xi Jinping. Recently, in collaboration with relevant departments, the Ministry issued the Implementation Opinions on “Artificial Intelligence (AI) Plus Transportation”. He noted that AI is being used as a key driver to thoroughly implement pilot projects for intelligent transportation applications, and strengthen R&D and application of ICV and autonomous driving technologies. Efforts have been made to develop a series of exemplary application scenarios that are technologically mature, feasible and scalable. International cooperation and exchanges in the field of autonomous driving are being strengthened to promote ICV innovation together with other countries around the world. Looking into the future, Liu Wei stressed the need to maintain innovation-driven development, increase the supply of key technologies, accelerate the empowerment of innovative application scenarios, and strengthen the provision of core resources. The aim is to optimize the ecosystem for industry development, foster new quality productive forces tailored to local conditions, and promote high-quality and safer transportation. He further highlighted the importance of accelerating the construction of an intelligent, integrated, three-dimensional transportation network and promoting the deep integration of AI and transportation, so that technological innovation can lead the industry development. Finally, Liu Wei called for aligning with global trends and keeping abreast of modern developments, consistently promoting international cooperation in ICVs, and help realize the vision of “enjoyable travel for passengers and smooth transport of goods”.

Xin Guobin pointed out that in recent years, thanks to the joint efforts of all parties, China’s ICV industry has made significant progress. A comprehensive industrial system covering intelligent cockpits, autonomous driving and connected cloud control has been established. Pilot project for ICV vehicle-road-cloud integration is being carried out, a series of key standards have been formulated and released, and efforts to harmonize international standards and regulations have been strengthened, creating favorable conditions for the application of innovative technologies. Looking ahead, the MIIT will thoroughly implement the decisions and deployments of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council and organize the formulation of the 15th Five-Year Plan for the development of the intelligent connected new energy vehicle industry, thereby promoting high-quality industry development. Efforts will be made to support technological innovation, promote deep integration of AI and the automotive industry, and strengthen breakthroughs in key technologies such as next-generation electronic and electrical architecture and high-performance chips. Cross-sector integration will be promoted to further advance pilot applications of vehicle-road-cloud integration and support the joint construction of trusted data spaces. The Ministry also aims to improve the policy system, accelerate the formulation of standards related to combined driver assistance and autonomous driving, optimize production access management, and regulate industry competition. Xin Guobin also noted the need to deepen openness and cooperation, support practical collaboration between Chinese and foreign companies in technology, standards and other areas, with a view to jointly building a safe and efficient industry and supply chain system.

At the Opening Ceremony, the Phased Achievements of the “Vehicle-Road-Cloud Integration” Pilot Program of Intelligent Connected Vehicle were released, and the construction of the National Artificial Intelligence Application Pilot Base (Automotive Focus) was officially launched.

The three-day Conference is jointly hosted by the MIIT, the MOT, and the People’s Government of Beijing Municipality. With the theme “Pooling Wisdom, Boundless Connectivity”, the Conference features a plenary session and three special sessions, including the Automotive Industry Policy Roundtable, the Automotive Industry International Cooperation Meeting, and the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Coordinated Development Meeting. Six thematic forums will be held in the fields of policy, technology, safety, AI, application and data. Five concurrent side events will focus on cutting-edge topics such as chips, integrated innovation, transportation infrastructure, insurance and ecosystem development. The Conference will also release a series of innovative achievements, including the Top 10 Achievements in Standardization of ICV, the Network Technology Roadmap for Intelligent Connected Vehicles, and the Research Report on Trusted Data Space of Automotive Industry. More than 4,000 representatives from governments, enterprises and research institutions of over 10 countries and regions attended the event.

(Source: WeChat Official Account of MIIT, ID: gxwbwx)