BEIJING -- President Xi Jinping on Thursday sent a congratulatory letter to the World Intelligence Expo 2024.

The expo opened in North China's Tianjin municipality on the same day.

Xi pointed out that artificial intelligence (AI) is an important driving force for the new round of scientific and technological revolution and industrial transformation, and will have a profound impact on global economic and social development and the progress of human civilization.

China attaches great importance to the development of AI, actively promotes the deep integration of the Internet, big data and AI with the real economy, cultivates and strengthens the intelligent industry, and steps up the development of new quality productive forces, to provide new driving forces for high-quality development, Xi said in the letter.

Xi noted that China is willing to work with other countries to seize the opportunities brought about by the progress in digitalization, networking and smart technologies; deepen international cooperation in AI development and governance; and strive to push for the healthy development of AI, promote world economic growth and improve the well-being of the people in all countries.

The World Intelligence Expo 2024, with the theme of "Intelligence: Extensive Development Space, Sustainable Growth Driver," is co-hosted by the Tianjin municipal government and Chongqing municipal government.