A competition aimed at integrating artificial intelligence with real economies and strengthening ties between China and ASEAN nations has been launched in Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region.

The event, themed "AI Guangxi, AI China, AI ASEAN", began on Saturday and is co-organized by government agencies, enterprises and universities.

The launch ceremony connected representatives from research institutions and leading companies via video link in seven cities: Beijing; Shanghai; Hangzhou in Zhejiang province; Shenzhen in Guangdong province; Hong Kong; Bangkok; and Kuala Lumpur.

Focused on Guangxi's strengths and ASEAN markets, the competition features three tracks.

The Application Innovation Contest aims to implement AI solutions in 17 key sectors, including automotive, tourism and education. The Industry Challenge Contest targets crucial bottleneck technologies that impede industrial progress through precise problem-solving approaches. And the "AI for All" Mass Innovation Contest encourages broad public participation to explore the potential of AI applications across diverse fields.

Open to participants from China and ASEAN, including enterprises, startups, research institutions and individual developers, the competition welcomes cross-border teams with no entry barriers. It aims to foster an innovation community linking ASEAN, Guangxi and the rest of China.

"Guangxi, at the forefront of China-ASEAN cooperation, can integrate domestic AI capabilities with ASEAN's application needs," said Wen Yonggang, a member of the review panel and professor at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore.

He said the event could facilitate the formation of a regional AI innovation alliance to address local needs, build regional strengths and contribute to the global AI ecosystem.

Chen Gang, Party secretary of Guangxi, emphasized that the vitality of AI lies in open cooperation, with China-ASEAN market linkages providing a prime innovation stage.

"AI's mission is to benefit people, making smart achievements visible, tangible and usable," Chen said, adding that the competition aims to boost public AI awareness.

Tech leaders and top experts were involved in the event's design, with a prominent judging panel and investment institutions connecting promising projects with capital throughout the process. The event will support top entries in road shows at the China-ASEAN Expo and prioritize their implementation in Guangxi.

Harry Shum Heung-Yeung, chairman of the university council of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, highlighted application as key to AI development. He noted that Guangxi already has practical AI applications, including digital tourism products, ASEAN fruit models and anti-fraud systems that enhance daily life and safety.

This year, Guangxi has released 16 "AI+" application scenarios, promoted industry-specific investment and fostered targeted AI products and services, aiming to build a leading AI cooperation hub for ASEAN.