The China National Computer Congress 2018 kicks off in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, on Oct 25. [Photo/zjol.com.cn]

The 2018 China National Computer Congress (CNCC), the largest and highest level event of its kind in the computer field in China, kicked off in Xiaoshan district, Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, on Oct 25.

Focusing on big data and the Chinese digital economy, the three-day event attracted more than 7,000 world-leading IT experts and entrepreneurs, including Turing Award Laureate Robert E. Kahn and Zhang Jianfeng, head of the Alibaba Damo Academy, to share experience and know-how in areas of artificial intelligence, big data, blockchains and unmanned vehicles.

Mei Hong, chairman of the CNCC, noted that we are embracing a golden era of social and economic development driven by information technology, which will bring many opportunities and challenges to computer practitioners.

While Hangzhou is seeking to take the lead in the country's digital economy, the big data-themed congress is not only in line with the current trend of international economic development, but coincides with Xiaoshan's future development, said an official from the Hangzhou government.

Apart from keynote speeches, an array of themed forums and over 20 related activities are also being held during the event.

In August, the China Computer Federation (CCF) reached an agreement with Xiaoshan district of Hangzhou to build a national computer museum displaying a record of all aspects of the history of computing and digital development in China and the world.

A staff member introduces a smart data center to visitors during the China National Computer Congress 2018 in Hangzhou, East China's Zhejiang province, on Oct 25. [Photo/Xinhua]

The planned design of the computer museum in Qianjiang Century City, Xiaoshan district of Hangzhou, Zhejiang province [Photo/zjol.com.cn]