SHANGHAI, Oct. 9, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- A news report from english.shanghai.gov.cn:

The 38th meeting of the International Business Leaders' Advisory Council for the Mayor of Shanghai will take place in Shanghai on Oct 10 and 11, bringing together business leaders from China and abroad to discuss service sector innovation and explore new opportunities for cooperation.

As Shanghai businesses look to go global, multinational companies are seeking deeper cooperation with Chinese enterprises and further opportunities in the Chinese market. Since last year's meeting, more than 20 IBLAC member companies have identified new investment projects, according to preliminary statistics.

Global expansion

A dedicated session will explore how IBLAC members can support Chinese companies expanding overseas through their international experience and service networks.

Tan Su Shan, CEO of DBS Group and an IBLAC member, said the bank's presence in China and Southeast Asia enables it to support Chinese companies going global through financial technology, regional connectivity and cross-border renminbi solutions.

Tan Limin, chairman of Shanghai-based Westwell, said his company hopes to learn from international peers about long-term strategic management, global innovation networks and cross-cultural organizational development.

AI cooperation

Artificial intelligence has become an increasingly prominent topic at IBLAC. Last year, eight Shanghai AI companies showcased robots and other technologies at an off-site event. This year's session will take participants to Fuxing Island to experience AI applications in services and other real-world settings.

AI is also a key theme in annual reports submitted by member companies on Shanghai's development. ABB recommended developing AI-powered energy systems, Novartis proposed combining family doctors with AI to manage hyperlipidemia in communities, and Royal Vopak suggested building a resilient, green marine fuel bunkering and supply system.

Zhu Jie, a partner and senior vice-president of Shanghai-based embodied AI company AgiBot, said international companies are increasingly focused on how embodied AI can improve productivity. AgiBot and IBLAC member companies have explored cooperation in industrial handling, logistics sorting, and service retail.

Shanghai solutions

At last year's meeting, Mark J. Greeven, a professor at the International Institute for Management Development, called on Shanghai to focus on system-shaping innovation. He said the key was turning scattered innovations into scalable products and industrial capabilities aligned with clear application goals.

Such an approach could offer lessons for innovation hubs worldwide, according to Greeven. IBLAC has evolved from a platform for Shanghai to learn from international peers into one for mutual exchange and the development of solutions with broader relevance. It also helps multinational companies better understand Shanghai and identify investment opportunities.

Boehringer Ingelheim Greater China plans to establish a new R&D center in Zhangjiang to strengthen early clinical development and external innovation collaboration. Vale China also hopes to connect China with Brazil and the wider Latin American region, supporting Shanghai's role in AI governance, the green energy transition, and digital infrastructure.