Global Telecom leaders converge at Mobile World Congress Shanghai, drawn by partnerships opportunities

China

Global Telecom leaders converge at Mobile World Congress Shanghai, drawn by partnerships opportunities

2024-06-28 14:51 Last Updated At：15:37

Telecom companies from around the globe on Wednesday convened at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) Shanghai 2024 to explore partnerships with Chinese firms, particularly in the booming area of 5G technology.

For executives, the conference offers a unique opportunity to gain insights into China's 5G advancements, and position their companies in the next generation of connectivity.

After having traveled for over 30 hours to the event, Patricio Olivares, a senior executive of telecom giant Claro Chile, emphasized the importance of securing new partnerships at the exhibition.

"I came from Chile, very far away from here. This trip is very important for our company because two weeks ago we won the 5G spectrum. We believe that China boasts the most technology. That's why we are here," he said.

Olivares has set a packed schedule; visiting a 5G factory in Nanjing upon arrival, attending the ongoing exhibition in Shanghai, and then plans to cap off his trip in south China's tech hub of Shenzhen.

"AI is extremely important. We have seen many things related to AI. (We are) really happy with Chinese technology," he said.

Exhibitors pointed to China's booming communication technology and a more robust industrial chain as key factors driving the surge in visitor attendance.

Lara Dewar, the chief marketing officer of GSMA, one of the organizers of the MWC, said China is a front-runner in 5G application, and its experience benefits other countries.

"There are thousands of use-cases of 5G coming out of China. We see a tremendous amount of cooperation and the sharing is hugely beneficial to everybody," she said.

The three-day WMC conference, which closes Friday, is expected to generate billions of dollars in contracts and solidify China's position as a major player in the global telecommunications industry.

E-commerce helps Xinjiang farmers reach markets across China

2024-06-30 14:11 Last Updated At：14:37

E-commerce is helping farmers in the Aksu Prefecture in the landlocked region of Xinjiang in northwest China to overcome geographical obstacles and sell their produce to consumers across the country.

As the westernmost region of China bordering Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, Xinjiang is thousands of kilometers away from the eastern markets, a despairing distance for local fruit farmers.

"Our apples [used to] make it to domestic markets through traditional ways. The problem is that they have to be picked before they're ripe because of the long transport time," said Zhou Hu, owner of Aksu Qiguo E-commerce.

Zhou runs a company that sells fruits purchased from local farmers to online consumers in live-streaming shows.

"Previously, it might take five to seven days for the apples to arrive. Now with e-commerce, it takes two to three days," Zhou said.

As the business thrives, Zhou has helped raise the income of local farmers.

"We offer farmers 20 percent more of the total price than traditional buyers. That has a direct impact on farmers," Zhou said.

Seizing the opportunity brought about by e-commerce development, Rizwan Guli Erkin opened a store named Ga Beng Cui Dry Fruit Store on Douyin, the Chinese version of TikTok, to help her parents sell paper shell walnuts.

"The walnuts are grown by my parents. They only know how to grow them but don't know how to sell. So after college I've helped them with sales," she said.

Another one who has spotted this opportunity and returned home to build local businesses is Zheng Haozhe, CEO of the Future Village, an accommodation business in Onsu County of Aksu.

"I went to the U.S. when I was 14. I started from the ninth grade in high school. The U.S. has given me a very good education, but now, I feel very grateful to come back to my country and keep building my country, especially in a border area in the western area where things are not very developed," Zheng said.