The upcoming Fourth Global Digital Trade Expo (GDTE) is expected to generate procurement deals totaling 30-billion-yuan ($4.21 billion), relevant authorities said on Thursday, with the Ministry of Commerce pledging to further promote orderly expansion and opening-up of digital trade.

Scheduled to be held from September 25 to 29 in Hangzhou city, East China's Zhejiang Province, the expo is China's only national-level international professional exhibition with the theme of digital trade, according to the expo's official website.

This year's GDTE will debut more than 100 China-first, Asia-first, and global-first releases, showcasing cutting-edge technologies and products like generative AI and multi-modal sensory interaction, Vice Minister of Commerce Sheng Qiuping told a press briefing on Thursday.

As of now, around 1,700 exhibitors have signed up, with international exhibitors accounting for over 20 percent, including more than 70 Fortune Global 500 companies. Over 10,000 international buyers are expected, marking a 54-percent increase from last year, said Sheng.

The guest countries, the United Arab Emirates and Indonesia, will set up national pavilions to showcase their achievements in digital economy development, the official said.

Hangzhou Mayor Yao Gaoyuan said the expo will focus on match-making between exhibitors and buyers to facilitate two-way cooperation and contract signing. So far, partnerships have been established with 53 countries (regions) and 86 business associations and professional organizations, he added.

"This year's guest country, Indonesia, has procurement intentions nearing 1 billion yuan in areas like new capital construction and digital transformation. We expect the total procurement amount at this expo to reach 30 billion yuan," Yao said.

In addition, this expo will introduce the "Digital Trade Investment Day" for the first time, selecting over 100 digital trade sci-tech innovation projects nationwide and matching them precisely with 100 global premium venture capital firms, Lu Shan, Vice-Governor of Zhejiang, said.

Digital trade, a new form of commerce integrating digital technology with international trade, is demonstrating strong resilience and potential, Sheng said, emphasizing that digital trade is a new driver for high-quality business growth.

"By fostering precise connections between exhibitors, buyers, and investors, this event will not only boost immediate procurement but also promote long-term cross-border digital trade growth, help enhance China's role in the international value chain," Wang Peng, associate research fellow at the Beijing Academy of Social Sciences, told Global Times on Thursday.

This expo deeply focuses on AI, with the AI exhibition area divided into four sections like embodied intelligence, intelligent agents, digital commerce, and large models. Over 330 AI companies have registered to participate, Yao noted.

Lu said the expo will showcase over 100 AI applications in fields such as healthcare, education, entertainment, transportation, and construction, while also hosting complementary events like a robot innovation competition and an electronic music festival.

Digital trade has become a new growth point for the economy. Last August, China unveiled a guideline on the reform, innovation and development of digital trade, vowing to promote institutional opening-up and strengthen international cooperation in digital trade.

The guidelines set a target that by 2029, the scale of digitally deliverable services trade will grow steadily, accounting for more than 45 percent of China's total services trade. In the first half of 2025, the country's digitally deliverable services imports and exports reached 1.5 trillion yuan, hitting a record high, official data showed.

At Thursday's press conference, Sheng said the Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) will further promote orderly expansion and opening-up in digital trade-related fields such as telecommunications, the internet, and culture.

Efforts will be made to encourage foreign investors to increase investment in the digital sector and improve the convenience for foreign-invested enterprises in digital trade to invest and operate in China, he said.

Authorities will also cultivate leading digital trade enterprises with strong innovation capabilities and international competitiveness, supporting them in expanding into international markets.

"China's commitment to opening up its digital trade sectors is expected to draw more foreign investment and foster a transparent, inclusive digital economy, positioning the country as a key player in shaping global digital trade norms," Wang said.

The expo is co-hosted by the Zhejiang provincial government and the Ministry of Commerce. As a pioneer in the digital economy, Zhejiang has seen its digital trade exceed 800 billion yuan.