LONDON, May 14 (Xinhua) -- Participants at the 2025 Sino-UK Entrepreneur Forum on Wednesday praised China's rapid advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) and emphasized the boundless opportunities for deepening cooperation between the two countries.

The forum, co-organized by The 48 Group in Britain and China Daily, was held under the theme "Smart Decisions for Smart Technologies."

Chinese Ambassador to the United Kingdom (UK) Zheng Zeguang highlighted the growing collaboration between the two countries in the AI sector. He noted that both nations have actively participated in bilateral meetings and exchanges, which have yielded tangible benefits on both sides. Zheng underscored the importance of continued science and technology cooperation.

According to official data, China is home to over 4,500 AI-related enterprises, with the core AI industry valued at nearly 600 billion yuan. In 2024, Chinese entities accounted for more than 61 percent of global AI patent applications, while new industries, business formats, and digital models contributed over 18 percent to China's gross domestic product (GDP).

Jack Perry, Chairman of The 48 Group, commended the current high-tech collaboration between China and the UK. He cited successful examples such as BYD's leadership in electric mobility, Alibaba Cloud's role in smart infrastructure, and Octopus Energy's efforts in clean energy transformation. Perry noted that the UK, now attracting more venture capital in AI than any other European country, offers complementary strengths to China's capabilities.

Panel discussions featured insights from experts and industry leaders on how AI is transforming a wide range of sectors, including power supply, green growth, finance, language technologies, automotive design, cloud computing, and advertising.

"China and Britain are two global engines of innovation with deeply complementary strengths," said Rebecca Yang, editor-in-chief of China Daily Europe. She pointed to the UK's excellence in fundamental research, fintech, and regulatory frameworks, and China's expansive market, digital infrastructure, and real-world application capabilities as a foundation for strategic bilateral collaboration. ■