The 2026 China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS) officially opened at Beijing's Shougang Park on September 9, drawing global businesses and innovative achievements to explore new avenues for open cooperation and shared growth.

Industrial And Commercial Bank Of China Limited is making a striking appearance at the financial services exhibition under the theme "Forging a New Journey with Industry, Unlocking a New Global Horizon." The bank's showcase is structured around two central pillars — "Technology-Driven Innovation in Services Trade" and "Cross-Border Connectivity for Seamless Services" — highlighting its comprehensive financial practices in supporting national strategies, cultivating new quality productive forces, and facilitating the smooth flow of both domestic and international economic cycles.

Comprehensive Support for Tech Innovation to Reinforce the Backbone of New Productive Forces

As the foremost priority among the "five major articles" of finance, technology finance plays a critical role in achieving high-level self-reliance and strength in science and technology, as well as fostering the growth of new quality productive forces. In the "Technology-Driven Innovation in Services Trade" exhibition zone, the bank presents a systematic display of its efforts to use technology finance as an engine for empowering the development of new productive forces.

The zone revolves around two key themes — comprehensive AI chain empowerment and the commercialization of scientific research results — presenting a vivid portrait of the bank's efforts to safeguard Chinese tech companies' journey toward self-reliance and strength. In the AI empowerment section, the bank's presentation unfolds in four progressive stages: from strongly supporting the large-scale deployment of domestic AI chips and backing satellite-borne intelligent computers to achieve "supercomputing in space," to facilitating cross-regional scheduling and cross-border circulation of computing power for the "East Data, West Computing" initiative; from supporting domestic large models in conquering core technologies to forward-looking investments in quantum computing to explore future integration models — weaving a comprehensive support network spanning the entire AI industry chain.

Additionally, the bank has launched the "ICBC Intelligent Computing Link" service matrix to precisely address the diverse needs of the computing power industry. In the university achievement commercialization section, the bank presents four major innovative initiatives: a 10-billion-yuan special-purpose fund, tailored credit products, dedicated services for talent, and the integration of an industry-academia-research-application ecosystem — all aimed at accelerating the journey of brilliant laboratory ideas to commercial market shelves. The exhibition zone also spotlights the bank's deep-seated practices in cutting-edge areas such as embodied intelligence, new energy vehicles, and biomedicine, precisely channeling comprehensive financial services to bolster new quality productive forces and injecting robust financial momentum into China's scientific and technological self-reliance.

Building a Global Network for Seamless Cross-Border Financial Services

Enhancing the convenience of cross-border financial services is a critical component of advancing high-level opening-up. In the "Cross-Border Connectivity for Seamless Services" exhibition zone, the bank presents a panoramic view of its systematic efforts to facilitate global trade cooperation and support Chinese enterprises in going global through cross-border financial services.

In terms of global shared services, the bank's overseas service network covers 69 countries and regions worldwide. It serves as the RMB clearing bank in 12 countries and, jointly with Standard Bank of South Africa, acts as the African RMB clearing bank, with its clearing network spanning 19 African countries — providing solid financial support for Chinese enterprises expanding overseas and foreign investors entering China. In terms of two-way capital win-win cooperation, the bank leverages diversified channels such as Stock Connect and Bond Connect to facilitate the smooth two-way flow of cross-border capital. It has led underwriting for multiple landmark panda bond issuances and built efficient investment bridges for overseas investors from over 60 countries.

Regarding trade prosperity and joint promotion, the bank collaborates with customs authorities to implement enterprise-friendly measures, opens green channels for trade, and reduces cross-border transaction costs for businesses. In terms of industrial globalization, the bank closely follows the pace of "Belt and Road" flagship projects and the "going global" journey of Chinese manufacturing, employing its "Spring Integration Initiative" to coordinate a diverse range of services including cross-border settlement, supply chain financing, and exchange rate risk management — supporting independent brand industry chains in their global expansion. In building the RMB ecosystem, the bank has introduced the "ICBC Global Payment" and comprehensive cross-border RMB financial solutions, contributing to new breakthroughs in closed-loop applications for cross-border RMB usage. In terms of improving people's livelihoods, the bank has developed a comprehensive personal cross-border financial service system, optimizing the payment and account-opening experience for international visitors while offering tailored service packages for overseas study, business travel, and salary remittances.

Deep Integration of Digital Intelligence to Revitalize Government Services

Currently, digitalization and intelligence are emerging as key engines driving innovation in services trade, propelling the sector toward higher levels and broader horizons. The bank continues to deepen the integration of digital technology with financial services, incorporating its digital capabilities into diverse scenarios spanning government services and consumer livelihoods.

At the CIFTIS venue, the bank's vertical-screen "digital human" interactive installation is a direct reflection of its digitalized government services. Visitors can use voice interaction to explore the complete process workflow of the "One-Click Provident Fund Calculation" intelligent tool — from alerts on changes in contributing employees to adjustments in provident fund contribution bases, ratio calculations, data format conversion, and one-click filing. The digital intelligent assistant responds to all queries in real-time. This tool leverages digital methods to empower provident fund management for contributing units, making it more intelligent, efficient, and convenient — serving as a reliable HR and finance assistant for contributing organizations.

Building on this foundation, the bank is continuously extending its digital service capabilities to more government scenarios, including social security payments, corporate fund management, and civil affairs subsidy disbursements. Through online channels such as mobile banking, it is assembling an integrated digital government financial service matrix.

Technology-Driven Efficiency with a People-Centered Financial Touch

Services trade connects numerous industries and directly impacts people's livelihoods, and its high-quality development ultimately comes down to enhancing public well-being. The bank has always regarded people's aspirations for a better life as the starting point and ultimate goal of its financial services.

At this year's CIFTIS, the bank has made placing people at the center of finance a core value thread running throughout its exhibition, consistently conveying the warmth of financial services. Humanoid robots, AR glasses, intelligent dining, and AI photography — a series of interactive experiences at the bank's booth brings financial services closer to every visitor, showcasing the tangible achievements of fintech empowering the real economy and enriching daily life.

The agile movements of embodied intelligence robots demonstrate the tangible outcomes of tech finance; the immersive interaction on the 100-inch virtual screen makes digital services accessible at one's fingertips; the AI photography zone leverages cutting-edge intelligent technology to generate photos that seamlessly match iconic international landmarks, using playful interactivity to echo the globalized service theme; and robot-crafted coffee and ice cream add a touch of everyday warmth to the technology-driven exhibition space.

The bank will continue to uphold the political and people-centric nature of financial work, deepen its comprehensive financial solutions, use the power of finance to unfold the magnificent landscape of services trade, write a financial answer sheet for high-level opening-up with practical commitment, and embark on a new journey of shared prosperity with global partners.