Global AI Leaders Call for Unity Amid Rapid Advances at WAIC 2025
The 2025 World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) kicked off in Shanghai on July 26 under the compelling theme of “Global Solidarity in the AI Era.” During July 26-July 28, WAIC is hosting more than 100 sub-forums and interactive events, showcasing the latest breakthroughs from over 800 exhibitors across fields such as industrial applications, humanoid robotics, scientific research, and AI safety: Huawei, which occupied a central space at the Shanghai World Expo Exhibition and Convention Centre, showed to the public for the first time its Supernode 384 system – which is a cluster of 384 Ascend AI processors – spread across 12 computing cabinets and four bus cabinets. Unitree Robotics showcased its humanoid robot G1—featured in recent combat competitions—as well as its quadruped robots, the B2 and Go2. Meanwhile, XREAL highlighted its latest flagship, the XREAL One Pro, and debuted an immersive AR+AI experience space open to the public for the first time.
Highlighting the importance of global collaboration, Nobel laureate and AI pioneer Geoffrey Hinton proposed creating an “international community of AI safety institutes” dedicated to developing benevolent AI. Hinton openly acknowledged the challenges posed by divergent national interests—such as cyberattacks, autonomous weapons, and deepfakes—but underscored one universal truth: “No country wants AI to take over.”
Representing China’s next generation of AI entrepreneurs, Yan Junjie, founder and CEO of Shanghai-based AI unicorn MiniMax, optimistically stated: “Artificial general intelligence (AGI) will undoubtedly become a reality, serving and benefiting everyone.” Yan highlighted AI’s transformative potential as a productivity booster, calling for collective action by companies and users alike, stressing no single entity can achieve AGI alone.
Meanwhile, Eric Schmidt, former Google CEO now leading rocket startup Relativity Space, praised China’s open-source AI models—specifically calling out DeepSeek and Alibaba’s Qwen—as “extremely powerful” and “world-class.” Schmidt further emphasized the growing necessity for US-China collaboration on AI governance, cautioning against potential risks if the technology’s rapid evolution isn’t carefully managed.
As global AI capabilities accelerate, experts at WAIC are sending a clear message: international collaboration isn’t merely beneficial—it’s becoming increasingly essential.
JD.com Bets Big on Quality Takeout With “Ten Thousand Store Plan”
On the evening of July 22, JD.com announced an ambitious new initiative: the “Ten Thousand Store Plan”, pledging over CNY 10 billion (≈ USD 1.37 billion) over the next three years to open 10,000 self-operated takeout kitchens nationwide under its new brand “Qixian Xiaochu.” The move is paired with a CNY 1 billion (≈ USD 137 million) “Dish Partners” recruitment plan, aimed at enlisting national restaurant brands and individual chefs to contribute 1,000 signature dishes.
What makes JD.com’s new kitchens stand out is their open, transparent design: food is prepared in full view of customers, with the entire cooking process live-streamed 24/7. “Today’s consumers care deeply about food safety and hygiene,” said Liu Bin, head of Qixian Xiaochu. “This model aims to eliminate ghost kitchens and build consumer trust.”
The goal is twofold:
- Raise food safety standards by phasing out the dining model of black takeout anonymous ghost kitchens.
- Support quality-oriented restaurants, enabling their signature dishes to reach customers nationwide and grow revenues sustainably.
Unlike traditional delivery platforms, which mainly act as intermediaries, JD.com plans to control the full chain — from cooking to delivery — effectively operating its own food production system.
The move comes as Meituan, China’s dominant delivery platform, rolls out its own “10,000 Brands” plan to boost partner restaurant traffic. Meituan still enjoys a strong lead in user traffic and logistics coverage, but JD.com is signaling that food delivery can be more than just subsidies and speed — it can also be about quality and trust.
Mitsubishi Motors Ends Its China Chapter, Exiting Engine JV Amid EV Shift
On July 22, Mitsubishi Motors announced the termination of its joint venture with Shenyang Aerospace Mitsubishi Engine Manufacturing Co., Ltd., officially pulling the plug on its engine business in China. The company cited China’s rapid shift toward electrification as the key reason for reassessing its regional strategy and withdrawing entirely from local production.
This marks a symbolic end to Mitsubishi Motors’ four-decade presence in China, a journey that once saw it rise to near Volkswagen-level performance in the early 2000s.
Mitsubishi’s roots in China date back to the 1980s through engine technology cooperation, later forming Dongnan Motor with China Motor and Fujian Automobile Industry Group, producing models like the Delica and Forticar. By 2003, Mitsubishi’s imported car sales alone reached 140,000 units, and when local production was included, its sales performance was formidable.
The brand’s modern-day push began with Guangzhou Mitsubishi in 2012, and the locally produced Outlander turned into a hit after its 2016 launch, driving sales to new highs. At its peak, the plant carried a CNY 5 billion investment and employed over 4,000 workers.
But fortunes shifted in 2019 as internal strife within the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance derailed momentum. By 2022, capacity utilization at its plant had plunged to just 16%, earning it the nickname “empty castle.”
Rumors of Mitsubishi’s withdrawal began swirling in early 2023, becoming official by year-end when the company announced its exit from vehicle production in China. GAC Group acquired Mitsubishi’s remaining equity for 1 yuan, taking full ownership of GAC Mitsubishi and repurposing its plant for GAC Aion’s EV production.
With the shutdown of its engine JV, Mitsubishi’s entire production footprint in China is now dismantled a stark reflection of how fast China’s automotive industry has shifted to electric powertrains, leaving legacy combustion strategies behind.
Chinese Football Association Faces Mounting Criticism and Eroding Public Trust
On July 18, China’s largest electric vehicle maker, BYD, secured a high-profile sponsorship deal with the Chinese Football Association (CFA), agreeing to become an official partner of the national soccer team for five years. According to the agreement announced on the Shanghai United Assets and Equity Exchange, BYD would provide a total sponsorship worth CNY 75 million, of which at least CNY 57.5 million would be in cash, with the remainder in vehicles.
However, what seemed like a straightforward branding move quickly ignited a firestorm. China’s national team has been mired in controversy—failing to qualify for the FIFA World Cup for the past six consecutive tournaments, and tumbling to 98th in FIFA’s global rankings, their lowest position in 32 years. Off the pitch, the CFA itself has been embroiled in corruption scandals involving senior officials like Li Tie and Chen Xuyuan, compounded by allegations of match-fixing, severely damaging fan trust.
Fans responded immediately on social media, calling for boycotts against any brand associating with the national team, and even launching a real-time blacklist of sponsors. Just days after the sponsorship announcement, prominent football commentator Dong Lu reported that BYD had put its cooperation with the national team on hold. According to Dong, the suspension wasn’t due to negotiation failures, but rather driven by overwhelming online backlash, as fans began publicly boycotting BYD for its association with Chinese football.
Meanwhile, in a separate but related saga, the CFA tried reaching out to the rapidly rising Jiangsu City Football League (known colloquially as the “Su Chao”) with an offer to “guide and regulate” the grassroots league. In a surprising twist, “Su Chao” decisively rejected the CFA’s overtures. Organizers explained their rationale clearly: involvement from the national body risked diluting the league’s authenticity and dampening fan enthusiasm. The decision mirrored the approach taken earlier by Guizhou’s famous “Village Super League,” which similarly rebuffed official oversight to preserve the grassroots passion that made it popular in the first place.
Could locally-driven leagues, free from official intervention, represent a brighter future for football in China? If more cities follow Jiangsu’s lead, perhaps Chinese football might finally find its footing.
Shaolin Temple Abbot Under Investigation for Financial Misconduct and Ethics Violations
On July 27, the management office of Shaolin Temple confirmed that Abbot Shi Yongxin is under joint investigation by multiple authorities for alleged embezzlement, misappropriation of temple funds and assets, and violations of Buddhist precepts. The statement also accused Shi of maintaining improper relationships with multiple women and fathering illegitimate children. Officials pledged to release further updates “in a timely manner.”
Shi Yongxin, who took over management of the Shaolin Temple in 1987 following Elder Xingzheng’s passing, has long been credited with commercializing and globalizing the historic temple. Under his watch, Shaolin Temple expanded from a religious landmark into a multifaceted enterprise spanning martial arts performances, tourism, culture, medicine, apparel, catering, and online sales.
Shaolin’s tourism business alone has been substantial. The scenic area receives roughly 4 million visitors annually, with tickets priced at 80 yuan for entry and 299 yuan including its popular “Zen Shaolin: Music Spectacular” show, generating estimated ticket revenue exceeding CNY 300 million a year. At one point, tourism linked to the temple accounted for one-third of Dengfeng’s fiscal revenue.
Shi further embraced digital commerce. Shaolin’s official Taobao store reported CNY 23 million in annual sales by 2020, while its Douyin livestreaming initiative gained over 10 million followers within six months, with its first livestream generating CNY 5 million in sales. Meanwhile, martial arts education programs—typically five years long and costing over 10,000 yuan annually—remain a key revenue stream.
On July 28, the Buddhist Association of China announced it has revoked Shi Yongxin’s ordination certificate, marking a dramatic turn in the career of a figure who once transformed a 1,500-year-old monastery into a modern commercial empire.
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