CHONGQING -- The scale of China's core artificial intelligence (AI) industry had hit 51 billion yuan ($7.5 billion) by the end of 2019, with the number of AI enterprises exceeding 2,600.

The figures were announced by Wang Zhijun, vice minister of Industry and Information Technology, Tuesday at the ongoing 2020 Smart China Expo Online held in southwest China's Chongqing municipality.

Wang said China's AI industry shows stronger innovation capabilities, with world-class applied technologies including image recognition and voice recognition.

The intelligent technology has seen faster applications in manufacturing, transportation, health care, education, and other fields, Wang said. "A batch of products such as intelligent CT imaging systems, robots, and temperature measuring systems have played an active role in preventing the novel coronavirus from spreading."

Wang added that promoting the integration of AI and the real economy is an important way to optimize and upgrade industries and enhance human well-being, and China encourages enterprises and research institutions at home and abroad to deepen cooperation and jointly promote AI technologies.

Themed "Smart Technology: Empowering Economy, Enriching Life," the three-day 2020 Smart China Expo Online commenced Tuesday, and serves as a platform to promote the global exchange of smart technologies and international cooperation in the smart industry.