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Shouguang, China’s “vegetable capital,” will co-invest USD 33 million with UAE firm Silal to build a 100,000-square-meter smart agriculture center in …

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Shouguang, China’s “vegetable capital,” will co-invest USD 33 million with UAE firm Silal to build a 100,000-square-meter smart agriculture center in Abu Dhabi. Tied to the Belt and Road Initiative, the project will deploy AI, robotics, and solar greenhouses to grow crops like tomatoes and melons in desert conditions, expanding China’s agritech footprint in the Middle East.

<p data-start="229" data-end="523">Meinian OneHealth and <a href="/company/alibaba">Alibaba’s</a> Damo Academy have partnered to bring <a href="/industry/ai">AI</a> screening to health exams, targeting early detection of cancer and chronic diseases. The CT-based model, recently designated a breakthrough device by the FDA, has reportedly shown high accuracy in identifying pancreatic and gastrointestinal cancers and will now be piloted in routine checkups.</p>

Ant International and HSBC have launched a blockchain-based tokenized deposit service in Hong Kong, enabling round-the-clock HKD and USD transfers between corporate wallets. Ant is reportedly the first client to complete an instant intra-group transaction using its Whale platform, part of a broader push to digitize treasury operations with AI, encryption, and cross-chain tools.

<a href="/company/alibaba">Alibaba</a> announced its first AliExpress <a href="/industry/e-commerce">cross-border e-commerce</a> industrial park in Northeast China on May 19, located in Dalian’s Hi-tech Zone. The 10,000-square-meter site is set to open in July and will serve as a logistics and export hub, offering full-cycle services to help local firms access global markets through Alibaba’s international network.

<a href="/company/meituan">Meituan</a> has reportedly launched Keemart, the overseas brand of Xiaoxiang Supermarket, in Riyadh, marking its first retail venture abroad. Former senior executive Liu Wei is leading the rollout. While Meituan has yet to confirm the move, hiring is underway for procurement, operations, and business roles.

Qatar Investment Authority is actively exploring China investments while seeking to avoid friction with the US, a senior executive said at the Qatar Economic Forum. The comments follow scrutiny of recent AI-related Gulf deals and come as the USD 524 billion sovereign fund plans to double US outlays, pledging USD 500 billion over the next decade amid rising geopolitical tensions.

Lenovo reported FY25 revenue of USD 69.1 billion, up 21% YoY, with net income rising 36% to USD 1.4 billion. Growth was driven by AI PCs, smartphones, infrastructure, and enterprise solutions. The company now leads the Windows AI PC category and introduced new AI “super agents” under its hybrid AI strategy, achieving double-digit growth across all regions.

<a href="/company/xpeng">Xpeng</a> expects Q2 2025 deliveries of up to 108,000 units, a 257.5% YoY increase, and aims to turn profitable by Q4. The EV maker will roll out its self-developed Turing chip in Q3 and debut a humanoid robot in 2026. These are part of Xpeng's broader strategy to build a full-stack AI platform spanning autonomous driving, intelligent cockpits, and robotics.

EV battery giant <a href="/company/catl">CATL</a> is incentivizing suppliers to cut emissions as it targets carbon neutrality in core operations this year and across its supply chain by 2035. Scope 3 emissions made up 95% of CATL’s 2024 carbon footprint, driven by raw materials and energy-intensive production. The firm is offering technical support and prioritizing ESG-compliant partners.

<a href="/company/openai">OpenAI</a> will acquire io, an AI hardware startup co-founded by Apple veteran Jony Ive, in a USD 6.5 billion all-stock deal. The move brings in a team of Apple alumni and positions OpenAI to launch AI-native consumer devices starting in 2026. Ive’s design firm LoveFrom will lead hardware and software design as OpenAI expands beyond apps.

Airwallex has raised USD 300 million in Series F funding at a USD 6.2 billion valuation to fuel global expansion and reach USD 1 billion in annualized revenue this year. Investors include Square Peg, DST Global, Lone Pine Capital, Blackbird, Airtree, Salesforce Ventures, Visa Ventures, and Australian pension funds. USD 150 million came from secondary share transfers.

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Airwallex raises USD 300 million, eyes IPO readiness and AI-led finance

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China’s Shouguang to build UAE agri hub

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