(Yicai) Sept. 24 -- The 17th FutureChina Global Forum opens in Singapore today, featuring a dedicated series of discussions on artificial intelligence for the first time as participants examine how to balance the opportunities of AI-driven innovation with the risks posed by the rapidly evolving technology.

The new track will explore how AI can be developed and deployed to foster innovation, strengthen resilience, and create new opportunities for growth, drawing on China’s experience as well as perspectives from Singapore and the broader region, according to the forum’s organizer.

The two-day forum is organized by Business China, a non-profit organization initiated by Singapore’s Founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew. It brings together business leaders, experts, government officials, and academics from China and Singapore to discuss economic, geopolitical, technological, and societal developments.

Held under the theme of “Strengthening Resilience, Rebuilding Trust,” this year’s forum comes amid heightened geopolitical and economic uncertainty, rapid technological change, and differing approaches to growth and governance. Discussions will examine how countries and businesses can navigate these shifts, adapt to disruption, and sustain the trust and practical cooperation needed for long-term growth.

The forum also comes as China enters its 15th Five-Year Plan period, covering this year through 2030, with innovation, industrial upgrading,  and domestic demand identified as key economic priorities. Against this backdrop, participants will explore how these developments and broader global shifts could shape opportunities for China, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, and the wider region.

“The global economy is no longer operating from a single playbook,” said Lee Yi Shyan, chairman of Business China. “For Singapore, China, and the region, resilience will depend not only on adapting to different systems and models, but also on building trust and finding practical ways to work together.

“The FCGF seeks to contribute to this by bringing together diverse perspectives and fostering dialogue on how we can navigate uncertainty, deepen understanding and identify opportunities for cooperation,” Lee added.

The AI track will run from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. today, while the main forum is scheduled from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. tomorrow.

Editor: Tom Litting