Global Mobile Internet Conference Begins in Beijing

The world's largest mobile Internet conference started in Beijing on Thursday with technology executives, businessmen and developers attending talks by industry leaders at the capital's China National Convention Centre (CNCC).

The 2016 Global Mobile Internet Conference (GMIC) opened with a speech by E.Hao, the 'Thought Leader' for the Great Wall Club (GWC) organisers, while an exhibition showcasing robot products, virtual reality goggles and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) drew some 25,000 visitors to the Olympic Green venue.

"Mobile is extending far beyond the smartphone into all aspects of our lives. It continues to innovate and change forms from phones to tablets, clothing, cars, smart TVs to robots," said the Mobile Ecosystem Forum (MEF), a global trade body for the industry.

The five-day GMIC, hosted annually in Beijing and Silicon Valley in San Francisco, features talks on predicting the future with technology, including prospects for the internet movie industry, interactive entertainment and smart cars.

The event also aims to provide a platform for startups and budding entrepreneurs so they can learn about the next big innovations, according to the organizers, who say the "unprecedented Summit inspired by Science...breaks into the unknown and brings you to the future".

Other speakers at the historic summit, ongoing since 2009, include Grab CEO and co-founder Anthony Tan, Alibaba president Yongfu Yua, and a panel including Weibo CEO Gaofei Wang and Baidu vice president Eric Li.