Compiled from a report by China Daily on March 13.
Asian businesses are actively seeking partnerships with Chinese tech companies as China accelerates its drive toward a smart economy, offering fresh opportunities for international investors and regional enterprises.
At the recent Technology for Change Asia 2026 forum in Hong Kong, organized by Economist Impact, senior executives from across Southeast Asia and South Asia highlighted China’s rapidly evolving technological landscape as a catalyst for collaboration and market expansion.
Thailand’s CP Axtra has leveraged Chinese tech partnerships to transform its digital operations. Tanit Chearavanont, Group Chief Commercial Officer, noted that cooperation with Cainiao, the logistics arm of Alibaba, enabled the company to handle 2 million parcels daily and increase its e-commerce penetration from 3% to 30%. “China’s tech evolution is incredibly fast, and partnering with Chinese innovators allows us to scale efficiently,” he said. CP Axtra is also exploring partnerships with Chinese large language model providers to strengthen its digital infrastructure and plans to enter Chinese e-commerce platforms, creating a two-way exchange of products between China and Thailand.
Malaysia is taking a strategic approach to tech collaboration with China. Norman Matthieu Vanhaecke, CEO of Cradle Fund, an agency under Malaysia’s Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation, emphasized that partnerships with Chinese tech firms complement ASEAN’s youthful digital talent and rapidly growing markets. “Strengthening ties with Chinese AI companies is key to building Malaysia’s startup ecosystem and achieving our goal of ranking among the world’s top 20 ecosystems by 2030,” he said. Vanhaecke also highlighted China’s support for open-source AI communities, which could accelerate innovation across Southeast Asia by making AI tools widely accessible.
In India, healthcare enterprises see similar opportunities. Madhu Sasidhar, CEO of Apollo Hospitals, stressed that AI-driven precision medicine will depend on open platforms that reduce costs and expand accessibility. “China’s efforts to open certain AI technologies globally empower innovators who might never have had access to advanced tools, particularly in healthcare,” he said.
Analysts at Economist Impact underscore that China’s combination of policy support, AI innovation, and smart economy initiatives positions it strongly in global competition. Charles Ross, Head of Policy and Insights for Asia-Pacific, noted that Chinese companies have demonstrated resilience and energy-efficient innovation even under restrictive conditions, and further policy encouragement will strengthen their global competitiveness.
Across ASEAN and South Asia, international investors are closely monitoring China’s tech landscape for opportunities to co-develop AI applications, integrate supply chains, and tap into expanding digital markets. Executives emphasize that collaboration with Chinese firms not only accelerates technology adoption but also unlocks new revenue streams in e-commerce, logistics, healthcare, and AI-powered services.
Investment Takeaways:
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China’s AI and digital ecosystem provides fertile ground for cross-border partnerships, particularly in logistics, e-commerce, healthcare, and enterprise AI applications.
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Open-source AI initiatives in China could lower entry barriers for regional startups and foster scalable solutions across ASEAN markets.
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Strategic alliances with Chinese tech leaders offer international firms faster market access and operational efficiency gains.
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Investors should monitor policies supporting AI, smart economy growth, and international collaboration as signals for long-term partnership opportunities.