2026 World Manufacturing Convention Opens Sept. 20 in Hefei

"Made in Anhui" Takes the Global Stage

HEFEI, China, Sept. 17, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The 2026 World Manufacturing Convention will bring global business leaders, government officials and technology experts to Hefei, Anhui Province, from September 20 to 23 for four days of business engagement, technology showcases and discussions on the future of manufacturing.

Held under the theme "Intelligent Manufacturing for a Better Future," the convention will feature an opening ceremony and keynote addresses, business-matching sessions spanning key industrial and supply chains, investment and project meetings, the release of major industry reports, and exhibitions highlighting the latest manufacturing technologies and achievements. Organizers have identified 946 potential partnership projects to date, representing more than RMB 400 billion in combined investment.

More than 1,000 prominent guests from around the world are expected to attend, according to the World Manufacturing Convention Executive Committee Office. They will include foreign political leaders and ministerial-level officials; representatives of the guest country of honor and international partner provinces, states and cities; diplomatic and consular officials based in China; and heads of international organizations.

The convention will also welcome more than 500 international delegates, including C-suite executives representing Fortune Global 500 companies and other multinationals, among them Merck, Mitsubishi Electric and Air Liquide.

The United Kingdom will serve as this year's guest country of honor, while more than 40 companies from the United States, France, Russia and other countries will participate as exhibitors. A series of international business programs will connect Chinese and overseas companies, with sessions devoted to the international expansion of small and medium-sized enterprises, cross-border industrial and supply-chain partnerships, China-Europe manufacturing cooperation, and the future of industry in China and France. Dedicated programs will also feature the guest country of honor and Anhui's international partner provinces, states and cities.

By bringing together companies and resources from across the industrial value chain, the convention aims to translate Anhui's manufacturing strengths into new commercial partnerships and investment opportunities. Provincial delegations have also promoted the event and pursued potential projects in Germany, Morocco and other international markets.

The program will spotlight growth sectors including smart and connected electric, plug-in hybrid and fuel-cell vehicles, advanced information technologies and artificial intelligence, along with emerging fields such as quantum technologies, embodied AI and biomanufacturing. Leading scientists and industry experts from China and abroad will examine advances in these technologies and the trends expected to drive the next wave of industrial transformation.

Among the major industry publications to be released are the Annual Report on the Development of the Industrial Base (2025–2026) and Manufacturing Digital Transformation Capabilities 2026. The reports will provide data, analysis and practical insights for manufacturers and policymakers worldwide.

This year's program comprises four flagship events, six major project and business-matching events, and 21 specialized programs. Flagship activities will include the opening ceremony, keynote addresses and an official tour of the exhibition.

The six project-focused events will bring together centrally administered state-owned enterprises, multinational companies, companies with investment from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan, businesses backed by overseas Chinese investors, and privately owned manufacturers. They will include a partnership event for Chinese private-sector manufacturers, a business-matching program connecting multinational companies with Anhui's emerging industries, a forum promoting cooperation between Anhui and Taiwan in complementary sectors, and a project-matching event for overseas Chinese entrepreneurs.

The convention will also partner with leading think tanks and research institutions, including the National Manufacturing Strategy Advisory Committee, the China Academy of Information and Communications Technology and the China Electronics Standardization Institute. Jointly organized programs will include the 2026 Forum on Building China into a Manufacturing Powerhouse, an event focused on the digital and intelligent transformation of manufacturing, and a forum on innovative approaches to smart manufacturing standardization.

Several related industry events will take place elsewhere in Anhui during the convention. Wuhu will host the 2026 Low-Altitude Economy Development Conference; Chuzhou will stage a business and technology-matching event showcasing advances in photovoltaics and next-generation energy storage; and Tongling will host the China Copper Processing Industry Annual Conference together with the China (Tongling) Conference on High-Quality Development of the Copper Industry.

Anhui enters this year's convention with a rapidly expanding industrial economy. Among businesses in the province's industrial sector with annual revenue of at least RMB 20 million, combined revenue has risen from RMB 3.8 trillion to RMB 5.9 trillion, moving Anhui from 12th to fifth place nationwide. The province also ranks fifth nationally on an index measuring the high-quality development of manufacturing, firmly establishing it as one of China's major industrial centers.

The exhibition—traditionally one of the convention's principal attractions—will occupy 70,000 square meters, according to the Anhui Provincial Department of Industry and Information Technology.

A 20,000-square-meter exhibition devoted to manufacturing development and innovation will comprise 10 themed zones. These will include an introductory pavilion, a showcase of China's manufacturing capabilities, a guest province pavilion, an international pavilion, a smart and connected vehicle zone, and a robotics and embodied AI zone.

A further 50,000 square meters of commercially operated exhibition space will be divided into five industry-specific zones covering areas such as automotive supply chains and semiconductors, as well as artificial intelligence and robotics. More than 900 companies have been selected to participate, with over 10,000 items expected to be on display.

Luogang Park will host a separate interactive showcase devoted to integrated unmanned systems operating across air, ground and other environments. Outdoor displays will include demonstrations of unmanned aircraft and autonomous vehicles.

SOURCE World Manufacturing Convention