Technology

Guangxi to expand AI cooperation with ASEAN

Published

2 years ago

March 11, 2025

Guangxi: China-ASEAN Expo to focus on AI

BEIJING, March 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — A news report from chinadaily.com.cn：

As a frontier window between China and member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region has unique advantages for establishing a hub for artificial intelligence cooperation with ASEAN, which will inject momentum into the building of a China-ASEAN community with a shared future, said Chen Gang, Party secretary of Guangxi.

Not only is Guangxi located at a critical juncture between the huge market of China, which has 1.4 billion people, and that of ASEAN, which boasts a population of nearly 700 million, but it also has an abundant energy supply, a linguistic talent pool including those skilled in the languages of ASEAN countries, and favorable policies, Chen noted.

Therefore, the region is uniquely positioned to implement China’s AI Capacity-Building Action Plan for Good and for All, and to conduct AI cooperation with ASEAN, Chen told China Daily on the sidelines of the two sessions, the annual gatherings in Beijing of the nation’s top legislative and political advisory bodies.

“I think that in the future, it will not be AI that defeats humans, but those who utilize AI defeating those who do not,” said Chen, who is also a deputy to the National People’s Congress, China’s top legislature. “The same applies to the development of an enterprise, a region and a country. Those who develop and apply AI first will lead the way.”

The China-ASEAN Information Harbor, a State-level digital open platform, has established 12 terrestrial optical cables linking Guangxi with ASEAN countries. The newly approved Nanning International Telecommunications Hub, which is scheduled to be operational by late this year, is expected to make Guangxi the fastest data transmission gateway to ASEAN, which can meet ASEAN countries’ demand for AI data processing, Chen said.

The upgraded China-ASEAN Free Trade Area 3.0 now includes cooperation on the digital economy, while Guangxi’s AI industrial fund of 10 billion yuan ($1.38 billion) was set up in February and multiple development zones are further bolstering cross-border innovation, Chen said.

He also noted that the region and ASEAN countries have engaged in deepened cooperation in trade, investment, people-to-people exchanges and education, and have accumulated a rich language database that can be used to train AI models.

Moreover, Guangxi has hosted the China-ASEAN Expo 21 times and the China-ASEAN AI Summit four times, with the 22nd China-ASEAN Expo, scheduled for September in Nanning, the region’s capital, expected to focus on AI cooperation, he added.

Chen said that during a recent visit to Vietnam and Laos by a Guangxi delegation, which he led, the top leadership of the two ASEAN countries acknowledged the development progress of China’s AI and said they looked forward to enhancing cooperation with China to develop AI models based on their own languages.

The delegation also signed landmark deals with Vietnam on cross-border logistics data flows and established the China-Laos AI Innovation Cooperation Center — the first such platform between China and ASEAN, Chen said.

Chen said there are four priorities for deepening AI collaboration.

The first priority is to attract leading Chinese and ASEAN AI enterprises to set up research and development centers in Nanning, in order to foster cross-border industrial synergy, he said.

Second, the region should aim to develop tailored AI applications for agriculture, healthcare, tourism and logistics in ASEAN markets, Chen said.

Third, an integrated industrial chain should be established that includes research and development in Beijing and Shanghai as well as Guangzhou and Shenzhen, Guangdong province; integration in Guangxi; and application in ASEAN, he said.

Fourth, the region will launch AI training programs for ASEAN officials, workers and students.

Through a multilayer cooperation mechanism established between Guangxi and ASEAN government institutions, enterprises, research institutes and the commerce sector, ASEAN countries can equally participate in and benefit from cutting-edge AI technology and standards, which will be conducive to further strengthening the two sides’ political trust, Chen said.

Moreover, the China-ASEAN AI Innovation and Cooperation Center will cultivate AI talent to empower various industries and push for the inclusive development of AI and bring real benefits to the people, he added.

Zhang Li contributed to this story.

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SOURCE chinadaily.com.cn

Technology

Lovey announces £250m senior secured credit facility with Pollen Street Capital

Published

59 minutes ago

October 27, 2026

UK’s fastest-growing fintech announces its largest funding facility to date to support more UK SMEs

BIRMINGHAM, England, Oct. 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Lovey, the UK’s fastest-growing fintech and financial services provider, specialising in SME lending and brokerage, has today announced a senior secured credit facility of up to £250 million with Pollen Street Capital (“Pollen Street”), an alternative asset manager. The facility is made up of £50 million committed capital and a £200 million accordion, making it the largest funding facility in Lovey’s history and marking a key milestone in the company’s growth.

The facility demonstrates continued institutional investor confidence in Lovey’s lending model, technology and long-term strategy and reinforces Lovey’s position as a leading finance provider focusing on SME funding. The facility will significantly increase Lovey’s lending capacity, supporting the business as it scales its own-book lending while continuing to grow its established brokerage proposition.

Founded by Jack Smith in 2016, Lovey has grown from a one-person start-up into a 120-strong business, funding more than £600 million in loans to over 11,000 UK SMEs. Built around a mission to make lending simple, fast and beautiful, Lovey has expanded rapidly while staying focused on making finance easier and more accessible for small businesses. The new facility will support that mission by giving Lovey the capital to help more UK SMEs access funding quickly and flexibly.

Lovey began lending directly from its own balance sheet in 2022, building on its experience as a broker to develop a deeper understanding of the funding needs of UK SMEs. Today, the business combines direct lending with its established brokerage proposition, giving customers access to both Lovey’s own lending and a wider panel of funding partners. This approach allows Lovey to match businesses with the funding solution that best suits their needs, while the new facility provides greater capacity to grow its direct lending operation.

Jack Smith, Founder and CEO at Lovey, comments:
“This new facility is an important milestone for us and will enable us to put more capital behind UK small businesses, scale our own-book lending and give more SMEs access to finance when they need it. Pollen Street shares our belief that finances for small businesses should be simpler, faster and more flexible, and we’re really pleased to have them backing Lovey for this next stage of growth.”

Kai Hunter, Chief Operating Officer at Lovey, comments:
“The funding announced today is the result of close and collaborative work with Pollen Street and I am grateful to their team, and to our own, for the diligence they brought to it. This funding deepens our lending capacity and allows us to offer larger loans, so that we can back more of the UK’s small and medium-sized businesses, from those that have found finance hardest to secure to the well-established, with greater speed and certainty.”

Ethan Saggu, Investment Director, Pollen Street, adds:
“Lovey has spent almost a decade seeing the UK SME lending market from a broker’s perspective, giving the team an expert view of where demand for credit is going unmet. We have financed a number of specialist SME lenders and recognise what it takes to grow from brokerage into balance-sheet lending. Lovey has done so with a well-defined product and a focused approach, and we look forward to supporting the team as it scales.”

Lovey was advised by Ashurst Perkins Coie and Pollen Street was advised by Simmons & Simmons.

The facility builds on Lovey’s existing funding arrangements announced last year, including a £35 million revolving credit facility from Paragon Bank and a £10 million junior medium-term note programme from LGB Capital Markets. The new facility also adds to Lovey’s growing institutional funding base as it enters its next phase of expansion.

To learn more about Lovey or to apply for a fast, flexible business loan, visit Lovey’s website.

For any further information, please contact: press@lovey.com

About Lovey (the trading name of Love Finance Limited):
Lovey is the UK’s fastest-growing fintech and financial services provider, specialising in SME lending and brokerage. Founded in Birmingham in 2016 by Jack Smith, Lovey has a mission to make lending simple, fast and beautiful. The company has funded more than £600 million in loans for over 11,000 SMEs across the UK.

Recognised by EY, Deloitte, The Sunday Times, Financial Times, UK Growth Index, FEBE, and Sifted as one of the UK’s fastest-growing companies. Lovey combines direct lending and brokerage services to deliver fast, flexible, and tailored funding solutions. With an industry-leading 4.9-star Trustpilot rating, businesses can enquire in 60 seconds and receive funding in as little as 4 hours.

Website: www.lovey.com

Pollen Street Press Office:
FGS Global
Chris Sibbald / Anna Tabor
PollenStreetCapital-LON@fgsglobal.com

About Pollen Street:
Pollen Street is a fast-growing and high performing private capital asset manager. Established in 2013, the firm has built deep capability across the financial and business services sectors aligned with mega-trends shaping the future of the industry. Pollen Street manages over €9bn AUM across private equity and credit strategies on behalf of investors including leading public and corporate pension funds, insurance companies, sovereign wealth funds, endowments and foundations, asset managers, banks, and family offices from around the world. Pollen Street has a team of over 100 professionals.

www.pollenstreetgroup.com

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Technology

Baidu to Report Third Quarter 2026 Financial Results on November 16, 2026

Published

59 minutes ago

October 27, 2026

BEIJING, Oct. 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Baidu, Inc. (Nasdaq: BIDU; HKEX: 9888 (HKD Counter) and 89888 (RMB Counter)) (“Baidu” or the “Company”), a leading AI company with strong Internet foundation, today announced that it will report its financial results for the Third Quarter 2026 ended September 30, 2026, before the U.S. market opens on November 16, 2026. Baidu’s management will hold an earnings conference call at 7:30 AM on November 16, 2026, U.S. Eastern Time (8:30 PM on November 16, 2026, Beijing Time).

Please register in advance of the conference call using the link provided below. It will automatically direct you to the registration page of “Baidu Inc. Q3 2026 Earnings Conference Call”. Please follow the steps to enter your registration details, then click “Register”. Upon registering, you will then be provided with the dial-in number, the passcode, and your unique access PIN. This information will also be emailed to you as a calendar invite.

For pre-registration, please click:
https://s1.c-conf.com/diamondpass/10057872-oyt4z8.html

In the 10 minutes prior to the call start time, you may use the conference access information (including dial-in number(s), the passcode and unique access PIN) provided in the calendar invite that you have received following your pre-registration.

Additionally, a live and archived webcast of this conference call will be available at https://ir.baidu.com.

A replay of the conference call may be accessed by phone at the following number until November 24, 2026:
US: 1 855 883 1031
Replay PIN: 10057872

About Baidu

Founded in 2000, Baidu’s mission is to make the complicated world simpler through technology. Baidu is a leading AI company with strong Internet foundation, trading on Nasdaq under “BIDU” and the HKEX under “9888.” One Baidu ADS represents eight Class A ordinary shares.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/baidu-to-report-third-quarter-2026-financial-results-on-november-16-2026-302920463.html

SOURCE Baidu, Inc.

Technology

IBS Software’s iCargo to power Philippine Airlines Cargo Modernisation

Published

59 minutes ago

October 27, 2026

Airline to move from its current cargo system to a modern, cloud-based platform covering cargo sales, ground handling operations and revenue accounting

MANILA, Philippines, Oct. 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — IBS Software’s iCargo, a cloud-based platform bringing cargo sales, ground handling operations and accounting together, has been selected by Philippine Airlines (PAL) to replace its current cargo system. The implementation will extend iCargo’s capabilities across PAL’s domestic and international cargo operations.

As the leading AI-native product company in the travel technology sector, IBS Software will support PAL’s broader cargo transformation and modernisation programme with capabilities that support PAL’s full range of business functions, from commercial and operations to back-office accounting, while enabling further innovation and digitisation through a single, fully integrated cloud-based platform. iCargo will support cargo movements across PAL’s domestic and international operations, including international requirements such as customs reporting, duties and taxes settlement and regulatory compliance. iCargo already supports carriers with this same mix of demands, providing the flexibility, scale and capabilities to manage both.

The transition will enable PAL to address key operational requirements across its cargo operations, including system performance and data analytics. iCargo will provide modern capabilities to support faster shipment processing, greater reliability and end-to-end shipment visibility, while reducing manual intervention and enabling more efficient processes.

Beyond operational efficiency, these capabilities will help PAL Cargo bring its ‘Care that Delivers’ promise to life, giving customers greater confidence through improved shipment visibility, reliable service and a more seamless cargo experience. As cargo volumes continue to grow across its network, the new platform will also provide the technological foundation for continued innovation, operational excellence and long-term growth.

IBS Software’s proposal combined a strong technology fit with a proven track record of delivering successful cargo transformations for airlines worldwide. The selection of iCargo builds on an established relationship between Philippine Airlines and IBS Software, broadening the portfolio of IBS Software products used by PAL and reinforcing their shared commitment to long-term innovation and business growth.

“This initiative represents an important step in the modernisation of our cargo business,” said Jason Siy, Vice President for Cargo Business, Philippine Airlines. “As we grow across our domestic and international network, we need a system that increases visibility, improves operational efficiency and enables us to deliver a better experience for our customers. We see iCargo as a key enabler of our long-term cargo transformation strategy and of our ambition to build an even stronger cargo business for the future.”

“Philippine Airlines has a clear vision for the future of its cargo business, and we are proud to support that journey,” added Sunil George, Vice President & Region Head of Oceania, IBS Software. “This partnership is about more than implementing a new cargo platform. It is about working closely with PAL to build the digital foundation for future growth, innovation and operational excellence, and continuing a relationship we value deeply.”

For more information about IBS Software’s iCargo solution, visit: https://www.ibsplc.com/product/air-cargo-solutions/icargo.

About IBS Software

IBS Software is a leading travel technology company delivering AI-native travel intelligence that enables smarter, faster and more resilient decision-making, with built-in guardrails across aviation, cargo and logistics, and leisure and hospitality. It powers core capabilities for leading travel brands worldwide, spanning airline retailing, passenger services, loyalty, fleet, hub and crew operations, cargo management, and cloud-native platforms for hotels and cruise line operators, and operates from 17 offices globally.

Further information can be found at www.ibsplc.com. Follow us:
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About Philippine Airlines

Philippine Airlines (PAL) is the Philippines’ flag carrier and the country’s only full-service network airline. Founded in 1941, PAL is Asia’s first commercial airline and has played a vital role in connecting the Philippines to the world for 85 years.

PAL operates scheduled nonstop flights from its hubs in Manila and Cebu to 29 destinations across the Philippines and 40 destinations in Asia, North America, Australia, and the Middle East.

PAL is an APEX Four Star™ airline and was recognised by Cirium for achieving the highest on-time performance among Asia-Pacific carriers in 2025. In 2026, Philippine Airlines was officially invited to join the oneworld® Alliance.

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SOURCE IBS Software