Meeting in Wuzhen, Zhejiang province, highlights innovative cutting-edge products, trends changing people's lives

Self-driving vehicles, artificial-intelligence-powered translators, virtual reality goggles, and high-definition video livestreaming enabled by fifth-generation mobile communication technology, are all attracting attention at a smart internet exhibition in Wuzhen, Zhejiang province.

The Light of Internet Exposition kicked off on Tuesday, one day ahead of the much-anticipated the Fifth World Internet Conference.

It demonstrates innovative cutting-edge internet applications and how technological advancements are reshaping people's daily lives and work.

More than 430 enterprises and institutions from 25 countries and regions, including global corporate icons and domestic giants, are showcasing their latest products in the glitzy exhibition center.

"The expo demonstrates the latest technology trends, and pioneering research and development results. It also offers a chance for consumers and industry participants to observe and experience new applications and business models, as well as to promote international exchanges and cooperation," Wu Junqing, a senior official with the Zhejiang provincial government, said at a news conference on Tuesday. The government is one of the co-organizers of the event.

According to Wu, this year's expo is more international than ever, with 81 overseas enterprises and institutions participating. The event has also set up talent matching meetings for the first time, to facilitate exchanges and help companies to recruit new talent.

The expo comes as China is stepping up its push to drive the development of the digital economy.

President Xi Jinping has called for "keenly" grasping the historic opportunity of informatization development in a bid to build the country's strength in cyberspace.

The development of cybersecurity and informatization should contribute to China's drive to develop a modernized economy and achieve high-quality development, and to develop the new model of industrialization, urbanization, and agricultural modernization, Xi said.

Efforts should also be made to develop the digital economy; to promote deep integration between the internet, big data, artificial intelligence, and the real economy; and to make the manufacturing, agriculture, and service sectors more digitalized, smart, and internet-powered, he said.