CGTN: From 'potato capital' to 'token city': How a city in north China is transforming

CGTN published an article exploring how Ulanqab, a city in north China, is transforming its natural advantages into new growth drivers amid the global AI boom while balancing technological advancement and economic growth with ecological conservation to chart a path toward greener development.


BEIJING, Oct 19 (Bernama-GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Ulanqab, a city in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, is known as China's "potato capital" and "oat capital." Today, it is tapping its abundant wind and solar resources to power the growth of its computing industry, turning its natural advantages into new drivers of economic growth.

Since China launched its national "East Data, West Computing" project in 2022, Ulanqab has accelerated the development of its computing infrastructure. In late 2025, the city unveiled a three-year development strategy to build a "token city," powered by green energy.

According to official data, the city had signed 109 computing center projects as of August 2026. From January to August, the industry generated 5.68 billion yuan (about $849 million) in revenue, up 40.3% year on year.

Chinese President Xi Jinping visited Ulanqab on Friday, calling for better use of the region's abundant wind and solar resources to develop the green computing power industry. He also stressed the need to coordinate high-quality development with high-level environmental protection and stay committed to a path of green development that prioritizes ecological conservation.

From traditional industries to green computing

During his inspection, Xi visited the Chahar High-Tech Development Zone in Ulanqab, where he learned about Inner Mongolia's progress in advancing the construction of a hub for the "East Data, West Computing" project. He stressed the need to ensure the efficient operation of completed projects and finish the construction of follow-up projects on schedule.

He also called for efforts to earnestly implement the requirements for efficient, green and safe development and actively promote the development of the green computing power industry.

The "East Data, West Computing" project aims to build a coordinated national computing network by directing computing demand from eastern China to western regions, optimizing the distribution of data centers and promoting regional development. Inner Mongolia is one of eight national computing hubs established under the initiative.

Computing centers require reliable power supplies, high-speed networks and efficient cooling systems. John Gong, a professor of economics at the University of International Business and Economics, told CGTN that Ulanqab has made effective use of its abundant renewable energy resources to power China's AI development and that Xi's visit underscored his support for Ulanqab's development model, which leverages local resource advantages to drive economic growth as well as technological innovation.

With an average annual temperature of 4.3 degrees Celsius, the city can use natural cooling to reduce data-center energy consumption for nearly 10 months of the year. It also has abundant wind and solar resources and relatively low infrastructure costs. These advantages have enabled Ulanqab to attract leading big data companies, which have established computing centers in the city in just a few years.

By expanding computing infrastructure in cities like this, China is leveraging its abundant renewable energy to forge a greener path for the computing industry.

Prioritizing ecological conservation

While harnessing green resources to drive economic growth and technological innovation, China has also placed strong emphasis on ecological conservation.

Xi visited the Huangqihai Lake nature reserve on Friday, where he learned about local ecological conservation efforts, inspected the lake's shoreline and mudflats, and observed birds inhabiting the area.

He stressed the need to fully implement China's wetland protection law, uphold ecological red lines and safeguard biodiversity. For degraded wetland ecosystems, he called for giving priority to natural restoration, supplemented by human intervention, and carrying out restoration in a scientific and sound manner.

Huangqihai was once an inland, closed-basin lake that came close to drying up due to climate and other factors. In 1993, a county-level nature reserve was established to restore the wetland, and it was upgraded to an autonomous-region-level reserve in 2003.

After years of ecological conservation and restoration, the lake has seen its waters and surrounding vegetation recover, becoming a thriving habitat for wildlife.

From green computing to wetland restoration, Ulanqab illustrates how economic growth and ecological conservation can go hand in hand. By turning local resource advantages into new growth drivers while safeguarding its natural environment, the city demonstrates that green development has become deeply embedded in China's pursuit of high-quality growth.

https://news.cgtn.com/news/2026-10-17/How-a-north-China-city-is-powering-AI-development-with-green-energy-1RjqYev7eFy/p.html


CGTN Digital cgtn@cgtn.com

SOURCE: China Global Television Network Corporation

BIOLAB HOLDINGS REBRANDS AS EMERANOVA, EYES GLOBAL EXPANSION

 

EmeraNova seeks partners around the world to bring promising technologies to market quickly and equip clinicians with advanced, effective solutions. 

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 16 (Bernama) -- BioLab Holdings has rebranded as EmeraNova, as it widens its focus from chronic wound care to tissue restoration across medical specialities, healing phases and care settings.


The company said the new corporate identity reflects its plan to build a global platform that identifies promising technologies and speeds up their path into clinical practice. The name combines emerging (Emer) and new (Nova), reflecting its aim to pursue new technologies.


“BioLab was built on a commitment to improve patients’ lives. With EmeraNova, we are widening that lens,” said EmeraNova President and Chief Executive Officer, Jaime Leija in a statement.


He said the company was looking at technologies around the world to create a more connected ecosystem of care and bring the right innovations to clinicians and patients faster.


EmeraNova said it aims to expand into new care settings, including acute care and hospital outpatient departments (HOPDs), while continuing to serve outpatient and mobile wound clinics and to supply its existing amniotic membrane products.


It also hopes to broaden its clinical applications into surgery, sports medicine, vascular care and aesthetics, and to take its products overseas through international commercialisation partnerships.


EmeraNova organises its products into eight areas, namely Assess & Differentiate, Diagnose, Debride, Control, Prepare, Restore & Regenerate, Reassess, and Remodel Tissue. Across these categories, it is seeking partners worldwide to bring promising technologies to market quickly.


The company said its clinical research covers multiple products, with four clinical trials and three published, peer-reviewed retrospective studies run in 2026.


EmeraNova will present its new brand at the Symposium on Advanced Wound Care (SAWC) in Las Vegas from Oct 16 to 18.


-- BERNAMA

LEPAS L6 EV to Embark on LEPAS Global Elegance Drive: Real Roads, Real Driving Dynamics

 

WUHU, China, Oct 16 (Bernama-GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- On October 19, the LEPAS L6 EV will set off from Shanghai for the LEPAS Global Elegance Drive, marking the start of its first-ever global journey of elegant driving. Held during the 2026 Chery International User Summit, the drive will mark the official opening of the inaugural LEPAS Global Elegant Lifestyle Week, with 34 Elegant Driving Ambassadors from 15 countries joining the two-day, one-night journey to test the L6 EV across varied road conditions. 

Following its official launch in Thailand this July, where it earned widespread praise from local customers and media for its urban driving experience, the LEPAS L6 EV is now expanding globally. Positioned as an Intelligent Urban Living SUV, the L6 EV features a distinctive design and a Nature-Inspired Tech Cabin with a spacious, comfortable interior. Its efficient electric drive, comfort-oriented chassis, ADAS and intelligent parking assistance deliver effortless control, comfort and composure in everyday driving. Its range and fast-charging capabilities also support longer trips. The upcoming journey will showcase these qualities and explore how the L6 EV performs across different road conditions. 

The journey from Shanghai to Wuhu will take the LEPAS L6 EV through city streets, intercity highways, lakeside roads and winding mountain routes, testing its all-road capability. The Elegant Driving Ambassadors will assess the L6 EV’s power response, driver assistance, ride comfort, range and charging performance during the extended drive. A series of bends and changing gradients will provide opportunities to assess its handling, while parking in unfamiliar locations will test its handling, while unfamiliar parking locations will highlight its intelligent parking assistance. Drawing on different driving environments and expectations, the ambassadors will share firsthand feedback on the features that matter most in their markets, helping LEPAS better understand global user needs and inform future co-creation.

These insights will also contribute to discussions and co-creation during the inaugural LEPAS Global Elegant Lifestyle Week, bringing fresh perspectives to LEPAS’s vision of elegant, confident and composed mobility. Under the theme “TOGETHER IN ELEGANCE,” users worldwide will experience LEPAS’s NEV mobility solutions firsthand, exchange ideas and explore Chery Auto’s latest intelligent technologies, including AiMOGA robots. Through the integration of robotics and automotive technology across real-world applications, they will discover new possibilities for future mobility and elegant living.

About LEPAS

LEPAS is Chery Auto’s Premium NEV brand, dedicated to creating elegant mobility experiences for users worldwide. Committed to becoming the Preferred Brand for Elegant Mobility Life, LEPAS brings together Leopard Aesthetics, Elegant Technology, and Exquisite Space - transforming elegance into a driving experience you can see, feel, and trust. Supported by a growing global dealer network of more than 500 sales and service outlets, LEPAS is expanding its international footprint through localized operations, delivering products and experiences tailored to users across global markets.

About Chery Auto

Founded in 1997, Chery Auto is a global automotive manufacturer specializing in vehicle development, intelligent technologies, and new energy solutions. The company operates in more than 130 countries and regions, supported by a strong international network of research, production, and strategic partnerships. Chery Auto has remained China’s No. 1 passenger vehicle exporter among Chinese brands for 23 consecutive years. Guided by its global philosophy of “In somewhere, For somewhere, Be somewhere,” Chery Auto is committed to advancing sustainable mobility through continuous innovation and global collaboration.

Media Contact
Company Name: LEPAS International
Contact Person: Vincy Wang
E-mail: GlobalPR@lepasinternational.com
Company Official Website: https://lepasinternational.com/

Photos accompanying this announcement are available at:
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/fe031b8d-4910-4177-b265-2dec9bacf8c9
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/243bd023-2481-4d63-8176-89306ba677f4

SOURCE: Chery Auto

​Axi Launches MCP Integration Connecting MT5 Accounts to Claude

SYDNEY, Oct 16 (Bernama-GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- As artificial intelligence continues to reshape how people interact with technology, the online trading industry is entering a new phase in the evolution of trading tools. From analysing information to managing increasingly complex workflows, AI-powered applications are opening up new possibilities for traders looking to bring greater efficiency and accessibility to their trading experience.

Against this backdrop, Axi, a global online trading broker, has announced the launch of its Axi MCP integration, connecting eligible MT5 accounts to Claude, the AI assistant developed by Anthropic. The integration brings AI-powered interaction directly into the trading environment, allowing eligible clients to access live market data, track positions, execute trades and update risk parameters through Claude.

Built on Model Context Protocol, an open standard for connecting AI applications with external tools and data, the integration reflects the growing convergence of artificial intelligence and online trading technology. Clients can connect their eligible MT5 accounts through Claude.ai by adding the Axi connector, completing the setup process and authorising access through their secure Axi login credentials.

"AI is creating new opportunities to rethink how traders interact with technology. With our MCP integration, we're bringing AI closer to the trading experience by connecting Claude directly with eligible MT5 accounts," said Santiago Vazquez-Munoz, Global Head of Sales at Axi. "It's another step in our commitment to exploring innovative technology that gives clients new ways to access their trading information and manage their accounts."

The integration enables clients to interact with supported account information and trading functions through a conversational AI interface. By connecting Claude with MT5 through MCP, Axi is expanding the ways eligible clients can engage with their trading accounts as AI adoption continues to develop across financial services.

The integration does not eliminate the risks associated with trading. Clients remain responsible for their trading decisions and should understand the permissions granted when connecting their accounts.

The Axi MCP integration is available to eligible Axi clients with an active MT5 account.

About Axi

Axi is a global online FX and CFD trading company, serving thousands of clients across 100+ countries worldwide. Axi offers OTC derivatives across a range of asset classes including Forex, Shares, Gold, Oil, and more.

Media Contact: mediaenquiries@axi.com

Promoted by AxiTrader LLC. CFDs carry a high risk of investment loss. This content may not be available in your region

SOURCE: Axi Financial Services (UK) Limited

DISCLAIMER: BERNAMA MREM are not accountable for any causes of website defacement, misuse, or illegal activities connected to cryptocurrency, blockchain, tokenisation, or bitcoin. This material should not be considered as guidance or an opinion, as it does not constitute financial or investment advice. Use this information at your own risk; we are not liable for any losses or damages caused by the republication of this article.

--BERNAMA

AM BEST'S NOVEMBER BRIEFING TO FEATURE SINGAPORE, BERMUDA REGULATORS

 

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 16 (Bernama) -- Global credit rating agency, AM Best will hold its annual Asia-Pacific (re)insurance market briefing on Nov 3 during the 22nd Singapore International Reinsurance Conference (SIRC).

In a statement, AM Best said for the first time, the briefing will feature guest speakers, with senior officials from the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) and the Bermuda Monetary Authority joining its analysts.

MAS Deputy Director and Head of the Financial Markets Development Department, Shermaine Tay, will discuss trends in alternative risk transfer, while Bermuda Monetary Authority Deputy Director of Supervision, Kofi Takyi will speak on Bermuda’s insurance market and its regulatory framework.

They will join members of AM Best’s analytical team, who will give updates on Asia’s insurance markets and recent developments in the global reinsurance sector.

The briefing will be held in the Heliconia Main Ballroom of the Marina Bay Sands Expo and Convention Centre, the conference venue, and will be followed by a networking reception. Attendance is limited to registered SIRC delegates with full passes.

The conference, organised by the Singapore Reinsurers’ Association, runs from Nov 1 to 5 under the theme “Capacity to Capability: Building Resilience Through Innovation & Experience”. AM Best describes it as the largest reinsurance event in the Asia-Pacific region.

AM Best is a sponsor and exhibitor at the conference, as well as a broadcast partner. Its AM Best TV channel will provide daily coverage and interviews from the event.

The company’s Asia-Pacific market development team, led by Rob Curtis, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of AM Best’s Singapore operations, will also attend. The team will meet delegates to discuss AM Best’s services, including Best’s Credit Ratings and Best’s Performance Assessments for Delegated Underwriting Authority Enterprises (DUAE).

-- BERNAMA

DIC Expands Low-Solvent ECOVART Ink Rollout to Asia

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 12 (Bernama) -- DIC Corporation will begin the global rollout of its ECOVART gravure ink, which requires significantly less solvent than conventional gravure inks, focusing on Japan, the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and Southeast Asia.

In a statement, DIC said the low-solvent ink reduces the volume of naphtha-derived solvents used by packaging materials printing companies, helping mitigate procurement risks while improving printing productivity and lowering volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions.

Packaging materials printing companies face growing pressure to reduce VOC emissions and environmental impact while securing stable supplies of raw materials and managing solvent procurement costs.

ECOVART will be showcased at DIC’s booth at the Tokyo International Packaging Exhibition 2026 (TOKYO PACK 2026). Following its introduction in Japan, the company plans to expand sales in the PRC, where solvent-use restrictions are stringent, and Southeast Asia, which is expected to see continued market growth.

Launched in India in 2022, ECOVART has recorded steady sales growth. DIC plans to draw on its experience in the Indian market to support the global rollout, beginning with Japan and targeting the PRC and Southeast Asia.

Supplied as a press-ready ink, ECOVART is preadjusted to the appropriate viscosity for printing, reducing the need for solvent dilution and viscosity adjustments required with conventional gravure inks. This shortens processing time, eases operator workloads and reduces solvent purchases, while simplifying inventory management and limiting exposure to price fluctuations.

DIC testing has confirmed that ECOVART can reduce solvent use by at least 50 per cent. The ink helps customers meet environmental targets and is suitable for solvent recovery, potentially further reducing the environmental impact of printing processes.

ECOVART also has a higher colour density than conventional gravure inks, allowing printers to achieve the required density with less ink while maintaining print quality.

Looking ahead, DIC said it would continue expanding sales globally to reduce solvent use and VOC emissions, improve productivity and support a more sustainable packaging printing industry and circular economy.

-- BERNAMA

PREMIER ELITE WOMEN’S ROAD CYCLING RACE CONCLUDES ON CHONGMING ISLAND

Elite women cyclists gear up for three-stage Tour of Chongming Island.

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 12 (Bernama) -- The Tour of Chongming Island, a premier elite women’s multi-stage road cycling race, concluded on Oct 11, bringing together elite cyclists, amateur riders and fans for a celebration of sport, sustainability and local culture.

According to a statement, the event also forms part of the qualification pathway for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games, with riders competing for valuable qualification points.

The race opened on Oct 9 with the 110.4-kilometre Chongzhong Stage, a city circuit race, followed by the 129.4-kilometre Chongdong Stage on Oct 10. The second stage started at Changxing Island Country Park and passed through the centre of Chenjia Town in Dongpatan, a popular section among riders in previous editions.

The race concluded on Oct 11 with the 108.6-kilometre Chongxi Stage. Across the three stages, professional teams competed for the overall title and distinctive leader’s jerseys, with a stage winner crowned each day. Riders covered more than 100 kilometres per stage, with the competition featuring sprint finishes, breakaways and tactical battles.

The route passed several of Chongming’s landmarks and natural attractions, including the Shanghai Yangtze River Bridge, Dongtan Wetland, Xisha Pearl Lake, Chongming New City Park and Changxing Island Country Park.

The race was jointly organised by the Union Cycliste Internationale, the General Administration of Sport of China and the Shanghai Municipal People’s Government. The Chinese Cycling Association, Shanghai Municipal Sports Bureau and Chongming District People’s Government hosted the event, with the Shanghai Cycling Association and Shanghai Wansheng Culture & Sports Industry Co Ltd serving as co-organisers.

Following the Tour of Chongming Island, Olympic medallists and UCI world champions will compete at the 2026 Tissot UCI Track World Championships, scheduled for Oct 14 to 18.

Beyond the sporting events, the venue featured a bazaar of local specialities and a tourism experience centre, while free shuttle buses connected central Shanghai with the venue. Ticket holders and participants were also eligible for discounts at major shopping areas, alongside carnivals and other activities.

Chongming offers visitors a different side of Shanghai, with forested landscapes, waterfront scenery and opportunities for outdoor activities. As more major sporting events come to the island, sport is becoming an increasingly important part of its tourism scene, bringing together cycling, culture, commerce and local life.

-- BERNAMA