On February 22, 2025, the opening ceremony of the Global Developer Conference was held at the Xuhui West Bund Theatre in Shanghai. Following honorable guests has attended the Opening Ceremony including Gong Zheng, Mayor of Shanghai; Xiong Jijun, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology; Chen Jie, Vice Mayor of Shanghai; Justin Mclean, Global Vice President of the Apache Software Foundation, Board Member, and Leader of the Datastrato Community; Ma Chunlei, Secretary-General of the Shanghai Municipal Government; Zhuang Mudi, Deputy Secretary-General of the Shanghai Municipal Government; Cheng Peng, Party Secretary of Party Committee of the Shanghai Municipal Commission of Economy and Informatization; Zhang Ying, Director of the Shanghai Municipal Commission of Economy and Informatization; Qiu Wenjin, Deputy Director of the Shanghai Municipal Development and Reform Commission; Yang Haisheng, Chief Engineer of the Cyberspace Administration of Shanghai Municipality; Cao Liqiang, Party Secretary of Xuhui District; Wang Hua, Mayor of Xuhui District; and other distinguished guests.

Xiong Jijun emphasized that developers are a crucial driving force behind advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) technology and industry development. Fueled by global developers, AI has progressed rapidly, particularly with recent breakthroughs in open-source Large Language Model technologies and products, which present new opportunities for China's AI industry. The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) will guide its effort based on the principles of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, focusing on innovation-driven development and application-oriented strategies to create a favorable and convenient environment for developers, thereby facilitating the realization of advanced industrialization. Five key initiatives have been outlined:

• Innovation First: Strengthening capabilities in essential technological innovations.
• Open-Source Ecosystem Development: Creating an advanced open-source service system.
• Application Testing Fields: Accelerating the implementation and enhancement of technical products.
• Talent Reservoir Construction: Stimulating innovative vitality among global developers.
• Global Collaboration Platforms: Expanding opportunities for international cooperation.

Chen Jie emphasized Shanghai's accomplishments under the guidance of the MIIT in areas such as technological innovation, industry-finance collaboration, and international cooperation. In response to the rapid evolution of AI and open-source models, Shanghai aims to leverage its status as a global metropolis to establish an internationally influential "Shanghai AI Hub." Efforts will concentrate on enhancing open-source ecosystems, strengthening the service to "Open Corpus + Open-Source Models", expanding community contributions, promoting resource sharing, and fostering collaborative innovation. Key sectors, including smart terminals, AI for Science (AI4S), and advanced manufacturing, will be prioritized to drive high-quality economic development.

During the opening ceremony, Zhuang Mudi announced the launch of the "Shanghai Foundation Model Innovation Center Carrier Upgrade Plan," which aims to accelerate the integration of cutting-edge technologies into commercial applications. Collaborative efforts between international developers and Chinese tech leaders will focus on advancing AI research and its industrialization.

The event was attended by representatives from pertinent MIIT departments, Shanghai municipal authorities, industry experts, international developer communities, enterprises, and professional associations.