Zheng Zeguang, China's ambassador to the UK, delivers a keynote speech at the 2025 Sino-UK Entrepreneurs Forum in London on Wednesday. (Yang Chunya/China Daily)

Leaders in AI-related businesses, clean energy, and digital infrastructure gathered in London on Wednesday for the 2025 Sino-UK Entrepreneur Forum, a high-profile event spotlighting innovation and cooperation between China and the United Kingdom.

Held in the historic One Great George Street building in Westminster, the forum, which was titled Smart Decisions for Smart Technologies, focused on how emerging technologies are reshaping industries, and how cross-border collaboration can support sustainable growth and innovation.

Jointly organized by The 48 Group and China Daily Europe, with support from China's embassy in the UK, the event drew nearly 200 participants, including senior executives, policymakers, academics, and technology professionals from both countries.

China's Ambassador to the UK Zheng Zeguang addressed delegates and emphasized the importance of collaboration between China and the UK in the rapidly evolving technology landscape.

He highlighted China's significant progress in AI development, noting it has been characterized by expanding scale, flourishing innovation, improving computing power, and increasing application empowerment. And he said the elements he listed have driven China's transition to a smarter, greener, and more advanced economy.

Zheng also underscored the role of international cooperation in shaping the future of AI, saying: "We must extensively carry out international cooperation on AI, helping Global South countries strengthen their technological capabilities. This is China's contribution to bridging the global intelligence gap."

Additional speakers at the event brought further insight into the evolving Sino-UK relationship.

Jack Perry, chairman of The 48 Group, gives a speech at the 2025 Sino-UK Entrepreneurs Forum in London on Wednesday. (Xing Yi/China Daily)

Jack Perry, chairman of The 48 Group, highlighted the need to approach UK-China collaboration with not only ambition, but clarity.

"Trade today is no longer just about supply and demand," Perry said, emphasizing that, rather than seeking capital alone, the UK needs to offer complementary value.

"The UK now attracts more venture capital in AI than any other country in Europe. We're not just experimenting with AI. We are scaling it, commercializing it, and exporting it," he noted.

Reflecting on the evolution of China's global role, Perry added: "China is no longer the underdog. It is confident, capable, and efficient at scale … That is why the UK-China relationship must be built on balance, not dependency, on shared innovation, not one-sided deals."

Sun Shangwu, deputy editor-in-chief of China Daily, gives a speech at the 2025 Sino-UK Entrepreneurs Forum in London on Wednesday. (Xing Yi/China Daily)

Sun Shangwu, deputy editor-in-chief of China Daily spoke on behalf of China Daily's Publisher and Editor-in-Chief Qu Yingpu and acknowledged the UK's early contributions to AI through the pioneering work of Alan Turing and emphasized China's growing strength in the field, driven by national policies, vast digital ecosystems, and diverse real-world application scenarios.

"While AI has seen explosive growth in the past two years, its roots can be traced back to the mid-20th century," Sun said. "Around the world, the AI landscape is blossoming with diversity. The flourishing of various models and applications proves that open collaboration is not just an ideal – they are the smart decision for the development of these smart technologies."

Timothy Hailes, managing director of Meridian Global Strategies, speaks at the 2025 Sino-UK Entrepreneurs Forum in London on Wednesday. (Xing Yi/China Daily)

Timothy Hailes, managing director of Meridian Global Strategies, delivered a speech highlighting the deep historical and modern connections between the UK and China, and emphasized the importance of fostering partnerships for mutual progress.

He stressed the importance of internationalism in today's challenging world, where global cooperation is vital for prosperity.

"History has proven, time after time, that we are more prosperous when we work together," Hailes said, citing examples including the Silk Road, bioscience breakthroughs, and international space collaboration.

He also spoke about the shared interests of China and the UK, which include promoting greener energy and fostering technological advancements for the betterment of humanity.

Greg Jackson, founder and CEO of Octopus Energy, speaks at the 2025 Sino-UK Entrepreneurs Forum in London on Wednesday. (Yang Chunya/China Daily)

Business leaders share insights during a panel discussion on AI's role in future infrastructure at the 2025 Sino-UK Entrepreneurs Forum in London on Wednesday. (Xing Yi/China Daily)

The forum featured two panel discussions on key challenges and opportunities in smart tech.

The first session, Smart Systems for a Smart World, explored the infrastructure needed for intelligent technologies.

When asked whether smaller, faster companies can outpace the giants, Su Hong, director of industries at Alibaba Cloud (UK, Ireland, and Nordics), said: "Smaller companies can still lead in specific industries, like translation. From our perspective, we're committed to long-term investments in AI and cloud infrastructure, with 380 billion RMB ($52.73 billion) slated for the next three years. With this level of investment, we believe we can maintain our leadership position in the industry."

Bono Ge, BYD's country manager for the UK and Ireland, praised the UK for being an open market for Chinese automakers, which he contrasted with the EU and its decision to impose tariffs on Chinese carmakers. He described the UK government's decision not to impose tariffs as "brave" and also the right approach.

Ge recalled that when BYD entered the market in 2013, London quickly embraced its electric buses, valuing the technology above any bias. He said the UK's openness to innovation without discrimination was key to the company's success.

Experts and entrepreneurs discuss smart technologies in real life situations during a panel discussion at the 2025 Sino-UK Entrepreneurs Forum in London on Wednesday. (Xing Yi/China Daily)

The second panel, which was titled From Innovation to Impact, focused on the adoption of smart technologies across sectors.

Panelists addressed issues including underfunded innovations, regulatory bottlenecks, and the ethical responsibilities that come with deploying AI in public-facing systems.

Laurence Kemball-Cook, founder and CEO of Pavegen, highlighted a key challenge in developing smart technology, noting: "The short-term challenge is money, mainly due to lack of confidence, but, ultimately, it comes down to mindset — particularly in Europe."

Speakers and VIP guests pose for a group photo during the 2025 Sino-UK Entrepreneurs Forum in London on Wednesday. (Xing Yi/China Daily)

In her closing remarks, Rebecca Yang, editor-in-chief of China Daily Europe, emphasized that the forum marked an opportunity to begin deeper cooperation between the UK and China.

She highlighted the importance of refocusing technology on solving humanity's shared global challenges, rather than engaging in zero-sum competition. And she pointed to the need to break down barriers to cross-border collaboration by enabling the free flow of data and talent. Most importantly, she stressed that responsibility must guide innovation — ensuring that technological progress aligns with societal values and supports sustainable development.

Chen Yuehua and He Xiating contributed to the story.

Zhang Weiqiang, CEO of ATFX Connect Global, makes a speech at the 2025 Sino-UK Entrepreneurs Forum in London on Wednesday. (Xing Yi/China Daily)

Nearly 200 participants, including UK politicians and representatives from the financial, trade, science, and education sectors, gathered at the 2025 Sino-UK Entrepreneurs Forum in London on Wednesday. (Xing Yi/China Daily)

Participants continue the debate during a networking session at the 2025 Sino-UK Entrepreneurs Forum in London on Wednesday. (Xing Yi/China Daily)

People network during the 2025 Sino-UK Entrepreneurs Forum in London on Wednesday, where ideas about the future of AI and technology were shared. (Xing Yi/China Daily)

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Zhong Wenxing)