The 8th Hangzhou International Day opened on Sept 5 in Hangzhou — capital of East China's Zhejiang province — welcoming representatives from 23 countries, seven international organizations, two friendly cities, as well as members of the Belt and Road Local Cooperation Committee, or the BRLC.

With its theme Hangzhou: A paradise where AI booms and culture blooms, the opening ceremony of the two-day event showcased Hangzhou's achievements in technological innovation, global exchange and cultural dialogue.

That's as well as highlighting the city's role in international cooperation at a key stage in China's development plan.

Foreign participants listen closely during the opening ceremony. [Photo provided to ehangzhou.gov.cn]

Key initiatives were launched, including the Hangzhou-Verona Exchange Exhibition Hall. There were new friendship agreements with Indonesia's Serang City and the University of Verona in Italy, and the unveiling of the Technology Transfer Genius Model 2.0, China's first large model for tech commercialization.

The AI Hangzhou 2.0 platform, an upgraded services platform for foreigners, was also released, offering 11 new application scenarios ranging from tourism services to cross-border e-commerce support.

As the BRLC Secretariat host city, Hangzhou welcomed five new members from Italy, Indonesia and Argentina, bringing the committee's membership to 101.

To support international talent, the city issued its Join in Card, integrating work permits and social security functions into one smart card.

The program also featured speeches from Verona's Mayor Damiano Tommasi and leading scientists, as well as cultural exchanges including opera performances.

Later, delegates will visit Hangzhou's innovation corridors, tech enterprises and cultural landmarks to explore further cooperation opportunities.