To further deepen ecosystem collaboration between China Telecom and Chinese enterprises and partners in the UK, China Telecom (Europe) (CTE) successfully hosted the “Forms of the Future, Beauty of Innovation – CTE 2026 New Year VIP Client Gala” in London on 8 January 2026. Centered on architectural history, intelligent innovation, and industrial practice, the event attracted more than 60 guests from sectors including finance, insurance, automotive, energy, technology, logistics, and media. Distinguished speakers from the University of Oxford and renowned architectural design firm were invited to share insights, collectively exploring how technology reshapes everyday life and how AI empowers industry.
As a key innovation highlight, AI was embedded throughout the planning and delivery of the event. The opening video and on-site simultaneous interpretation were powered by AI solutions, while keynote sessions and panel discussions explored AI technologies and their real-world applications, highlighting the company’s ongoing progress in this field. The event also reflected China Telecom’s commitment to sustainability through the use of environmentally friendly materials in its design and execution.
At the opening of the event, Ms. Athena Xian, Managing Director of CTE, delivered welcoming remarks, expressing sincere appreciation for the long-standing trust and support of clients and partners. She reaffirmed the company’s commitment to further strengthening network capabilities and digital services in the year ahead, with the goal of creating long-term value for customers. The keynote session featured Dr. Hubert Pragnell, Tutor in the History of Art and Architecture at the University of Oxford, alongside experts from the architectural design firm Gensler, who shared insights from both historical and forward-looking perspectives on how emerging technologies are shaping architectural design and the built environment.
The event also showcased China Telecom’s strategic positioning and achievements in artificial intelligence. In the session titled “AI Capabilities and Practices,” Wu Pan, Leader of the Hybrid Cloud Product at CTE, introduced the company’s efforts to build an integrated digital infrastructure spanning computing power, data, models, and applications, supporting improvements in enterprise-level workflow efficiency while ensuring security and compliance. This was followed by closing remarks from Ms. Dongmei Zhang and Ms. Yimeng Liu, Deputy Managing Directors of CTE, who thanked the attendees and noted that the event not only facilitated cross-industry intellectual exchange, but also provided an important opportunity to strengthen mutual trust and pursue shared development.
CTE’s Culture-Themed New Year Client Event has been held for several consecutive years and has evolved into a recognised annual brand event within the UK Chinese business community. Serving both as a forum for intellectual exchange and as a platform for high-quality engagement between CTE and Chinese enterprises and partners in the UK, the event continues to expand its influence. Looking ahead, CTE and its UK business unit will remain rooted in the UK and Nordic markets, working with partners to explore how intelligent technologies can drive industrial innovation and high-quality growth.
