China's Commerce Ministry Says Large Models Hit 10 Billion Global Downloads
China's Ministry of Commerce said on Sept. 18 that Chinese artificial intelligence large models have surpassed 10 billion cumulative downloads globally, making new technology more accessible and affordable for more countries, especially developing nations.
Zhang Li, assistant minister of commerce, disclosed the figure while briefing reporters on the 140th China Import and Export Fair, also known as the Canton Fair, at a State Council Information Office press conference. The fair will be held in Guangzhou from Oct. 15 to Nov. 4, 2026, in three phases.
Zhang said that as world economic growth remains weak and global trade faces multiple challenges, China's foreign trade continues to inject certainty into global economic growth and supply-chain stability. Over the past decade, China has supplied more than 80 percent of the world's photovoltaic modules and 70 percent of wind-power equipment, helping drive down global renewable-energy costs.
Yang Tao, director general of the Ministry of Commerce's Department of Foreign Trade, said China's foreign trade maintained sound growth in the first eight months of 2026, with imports growing significantly faster than exports. Cross-border e-commerce and overseas warehouses expanded quickly, with first-half 2026 cross-border e-commerce imports and exports reaching 1.45 trillion yuan and supporting over 10 million jobs. According to estimates by related institutions, the AI application rate among cross-border e-commerce companies exceeded 60 percent.
Looking to 2027, Yang said the external environment for foreign trade is expected to become more complex and changeable, adding that multiple international organizations have noted that trade barriers have significantly raised global trade costs and threatened the security and stability of global supply and industrial chains.
