BEIJING, April 26, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — CGTN published an article on China’s latest leadership meeting on the economic situation and work. Exploring the country’s economic policy tools, the article highlights the strong resilience and potential of the Chinese economy. It also takes a look at the meeting’s stress on enhanced efforts to accelerate the implementation of more proactive and effective macro policies, as well as boosting services consumption to strengthen the overall role of consumption in driving economic growth.

China’s economy delivered a strong start in the first quarter of the year, demonstrating steady performance and resilience.

The country’s GDP grew 5.4 percent year on year to 31.8758 trillion yuan (about $4.42 trillion) in Q1 2025, ranking among the highest of the world’s major economies and positioning the country to better weather global uncertainties.

During a meeting held by the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee on Friday, the Chinese leadership analyzed and studied the current economic situation and economic work.

Noting that the country has seen its economy improve this year, with public confidence continuously boosted and solid progress made in high-quality development, the meeting called for efforts to accelerate the implementation of more proactive and effective macro policies and boost service consumption to strengthen the role of consumption in driving economic growth.

More proactive, effective macro policies

Besides the GDP, China has seen other economic indicators exceeding market expectations in the first quarter. For example, fixed-asset investment went up 4.2 percent year on year, with investment in infrastructure construction rising 5.8 percent and manufacturing investment increasing 9.1 percent.

Thanks to policy support, local-level responsiveness and the rapid buildup of innovation-driven momentum, the country’s economy showcases strong resilience and potential.

China has made thorough policy preparations to address external changes, as a series of targeted macro policies have already taken effect, and more incremental policies will be introduced as needed to mitigate external shocks.

Friday’s meeting called for efforts to make full use of a more proactive fiscal policy and a moderately loose monetary policy, coordinate domestic economic work and endeavors in the international economic and trade field, unswervingly manage the country’s own affairs well, and keep employment, businesses, markets and expectations stable.

Luo Zhiheng, chief economist at Yuekai Securities, said efforts should be made to make good use of aggregate and structural policy tools, cut the reserve requirement ratios and interest rates when appropriate, and boost consumption and corporate investment demand.

A multi-pronged approach for struggling enterprises

To aid businesses facing challenges, the meeting urged a multi-pronged approach, including stronger financial support and accelerating integration between domestic and foreign trade development.

Stressing the need to ensure people’s livelihood, it said that for enterprises that suffered relatively bigger impacts from tariffs, the proportion of unemployment insurance funds returned to enterprises to keep payrolls stable will be increased.

Amid recent U.S. tariff hikes, China’s foreign trade enterprises are actively responding with innovative products, seizing orders and expanding markets.

The country has also taken swift and proactive measures to cope with tariff shocks – reaching out to broader overseas markets while bolstering domestic sales channels with upgraded products.

Bai Wenxi, vice chairman of the China Enterprise Capital Alliance, urged the use of policies such as financial support and consumption coupon subsidies to further support foreign trade enterprises and continue to increase financial subsidies for export-to-domestic enterprises.

Boosting service consumption

Friday’s meeting also highlighted the need to boost service consumption, urging a swift removal of restrictive measures in the consumption sector and proposing to introduce a re-lending facility for service consumption and elderly care.

Service consumption has gradually become a new engine of economic growth and an important area for tapping consumption potential. In the first quarter of 2025, retail sales of consumer goods, a major indicator of the country’s consumption strength, gained 4.6 percent year on year.

Supported by targeted policies to boost consumption, service-related spending also picked up pace. In the first quarter, retail sales of services grew 5 percent year on year.

In addition, a series of documents to boost service consumption are implemented intensively. For instance, Chinese authorities have unveiled a work plan to boost service consumption in 2025 and released a series of new measures aimed at expanding and upgrading consumption in the domestic services sector as part of broader efforts to stimulate domestic demand.

A report released by a think tank, the China Institute for Reform and Development, forecasts that by 2030, the per capita services consumption of China’s urban and rural residents could exceed 20,000 yuan, accounting for more than half of total consumption.

Services consumption has become a propeller of goods consumption, and a “goods-like services” trend is gaining momentum across the country, said Chi Fulin, head of the think tank.

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SOURCE CGTN

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, April 26, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Artificial intelligence (AI) took center stage as more than 700 professionals from the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) sectors gathered for the annual AEC Connect Day. The event, hosted in Malaysia on 24 April by Glodon, a leading digital building platform service provider, featured key government officials from the Ministry of Works, Public Works Department, CIDB Malaysia, the National Artificial Intelligence Office (NAIO) under the Ministry of Digital, and the Malaysian Research Accelerator for Technology and Innovation (MRANTI), as well as representatives from the Malaysian BIM Association and other notable industry groups.

Established in 2018, AEC Connect Day has evolved into a premier regional forum spanning Southeast Asia and the Middle East, offering a vital platform for industry leaders, innovators and experts to connect, exchange insights, share impactful customer success stories, and explore the latest advancements shaping the future of digital construction.

This year’s event, themed “The AI-Powered Future,” highlighted the growing integration of AI and digital tools across the construction industry. A key focus was placed on Malaysia’s progress in implementing Building Information Modeling (BIM) and AI-powered solutions, showcasing the nation’s commitment to digital transformation in the built environment.

YBhg. Dato’ Mohd Sakeri Bin Abdul Kadir, Deputy Secretary General (Policy and Development) of the Ministry of Works of Malaysia, emphasized the government’s commitment to digital transformation in the AEC industry, noting that implementation is no longer optional – it is essential for enhancing competitiveness, profitability, and sustainability across the entire construction value chain. He also stressed the importance of partnerships with technology providers from the private sector like Glodon to unlock the full potential of digitalization within Malaysia’s construction ecosystem.

Dr. Yuan Zhenggang, Chairman and President of Glodon Company Limited, opened the event by emphasizing the urgency for digital evolution in construction: “The construction sector is at a pivotal moment, the wave of digitalization and AI is reshaping the entire lifecycle of the built environment—from design and construction to operations—ushering in a shift from experience-driven to data-driven practices.”

A keynote presentation from Sr Dr. Nazirul Fariq, Product and Growth Strategy Director of Glodon Asia International, showcasing the latest development of AI in the built environment. He introduced Glodon’s AI large model AecGPT and other AI-powered products such as Concetto and Zplan, which encompasses seven key areas, including planning, design, transaction, cost management, construction, operations, and comprehensive management.

The event also marked the official launch of Glodon Gsite, a centralized and integrated digital platform that helps construction contractors streamline stakeholders’ collaboration, boost efficiency, reduce costs and risks, and gain competitive advantages.

Additionally, Glodon unveiled major upgrades to its Cubicost 5D BIM Digital Cost Management Solutions, representing a significant leap in AI-powered integrated cost management capabilities.

With AEC Connect Day 2025 in Malaysia concluding on a high note, Glodon reaffirms its commitment to expanding its AI-powered solution offerings and deepening regional empowerment initiatives across Southeast Asia and the Middle East.

For more information, please visit: https://asia.glodon.com/

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SOURCE Glodon Company Limited

HO CHI MINH CITY, Vietnam, April 26, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — The “new DePin” (Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Network) trend is arising, as OKZOO’s AIoT devices see explosive growth and traction.

AIoT is short for AI combined with Internet of Things (AIoT), a new category that bridges physical hardware with decentralized network. OKZOO uses AIoT devices to gather environmental data such as noise pollution, air pollution, CO2 levels, and humidity.

OKZOO has already seen massive adoption with 12 million ecosystem users, primarily through its virtual AI pet apps OKZOO V1 and V2.

How AI Pets and Portal Devices Collect Environmental Data

OKZOO’s development began with an intriguing hypothesis: could engaging pet applications serve as the foundation for sophisticated real-world AIoT networks? The team systematically validated this concept through strategic platform iterations.

Their V1 release, a straightforward pet simulator, attracted 7 million users, demonstrating that emotional connections remain powerful in today’s digital landscape. Following this achievement, V2 introduced AI-powered pets capable of learning and evolution, gaining 700,000 users within its initial month.

This validated market traction led to the creation of the P-mini—a compact AIoT device that integrates digital pets with environmental monitoring technology. The P-mini o1 incorporates both sensor technology and an interactive AI companion that reacts to environmental conditions, enabling digital pets to exist in contexts beyond traditional screens.

Traditional environmental monitoring faces significant challenges: data sparsity, lack of real-time granularity, and verification difficulties. Government sensors provide only generalized data that misses hyperlocal variations in air quality, noise pollution, and other environmental factors that directly impact daily life.

This creates blind spots in urban environments where pollution levels can vary dramatically between neighborhoods or even streets.

The P-mini addresses these gaps by creating a grassroots network of sensors collecting street-level data. What sets OKZOO apart from conventional DePin networks is its innovative approach to user engagement. Rather than relying solely on financial incentives, the P-mini integrates virtual pets that respond to environmental surroundings, transforming data collection into an interactive, emotional experience.

In-House Manufacturing Capabilities

A key competitive advantage for OKZOO lies in its in-house manufacturing capabilities. Unlike many projects that rely on third-party manufacturers, OKZOO controls its hardware production process, ensuring scalability, quality control, and faster iteration based on user feedback. This vertical integration allows for rapid adaptation to market demands and technological advances.

The ecosystem operates on an incentive model that rewards users for running P-mini devices and contributing environmental data. These contributions establish a comprehensive database powering sophisticated AI applications ranging from customized health guidance to urban planning solutions.

As environmental awareness becomes increasingly important, OKZOO positions itself at the intersection of utility and engagement. By making data collection enjoyable through pet companions, the project creates sustainable user participation while addressing real environmental monitoring needs.

For a market seeking practical applications, OKZOO’s unique positioning across AI, environmental monitoring, and hardware manufacturing presents a compelling vision for addressing real-world challenges while creating engaging user experiences.

Website: https://okzoo.app/en
X: https://x.com/okzoo_app

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SOURCE OKZOO