2025 HONOR AI + Design Summit (APAC Edition) Empowers Youth with New Era of Intelligent Innovation

[On November 27, the 2025] HONOR AI + Design Summit (APAC Edition) was successfully held. As a landmark industry event spotlighting the convergence of AI and design, the summit brought together government representatives from China and Malaysia, leading academics, industry pioneers, and emerging youth innovators. Centered on the theme “AI Empowers Design, Inspiring the Future,” the summit delved into key topics including technological innovation, youth empowerment, and regional industrial upgrading. During the summit, the AI + Youth Empowerment Society (AYES) initiative was officially launched, and a book handover ceremony for New Logic of AI Art and Design Series was successfully held. These key activities injected strong momentum into the collaborative development of the AI and design industries across the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region.

HONOR Senior Vice President Martin Xu delivered the opening remarks, sharing HONOR’s vision of driving industry change through technological innovation. He highlighted HONOR’s Alpha Strategy, the company’s key plan for building an AI ecosystem, which stays true to the principle that “technology serves humanity.” By creating an open AI terminal ecosystem, HONOR aims to break hardware boundaries and enable intelligent collaboration across different scenarios, supporting APAC’s shift toward smarter, high-end industries. HONOR has long focused on youth empowerment. Over the years, through initiatives like industry-academia-research collaborations and the HONOR Talents Global Design Awards, HONOR has provided platforms for young creators to grow. Looking ahead, HONOR will continue to expand in APAC, using technological innovation to support high-quality regional economic development.

H.E. Ambassador Ouyang Yujing, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of China to Malaysia, was invited to deliver a keynote address. He highlighted that “AI and design” is one of the most transformative forces of our time. Using the intelligence of technology to inspire the beauty of design, it is reshaping lifestyles, industry patterns, and even the course of civilization. As a global leader in the AI device ecosystem, HONOR actively builds bridges between AI and consumers worldwide, reflecting the innovation and global vision of Chinese technology companies. He added that APAC is one of the most dynamic regions in the world, and China is willing to work with Malaysia and other APAC countries to deepen cooperation in AI, jointly creating an intelligent and prosperous future. Ambassador Ouyang also acknowledged the positive role of companies like HONOR in promoting China-Malaysia technology exchanges, expressing hope that the summit can serve as an opportunity to advance practical cooperation between the two countries in AI research and development, talent cultivation, and industrial applications, and jointly build a connected AI innovation network across APAC.

Shamsul Majid, CEO of Malaysia’s National AI Office (NAIO), spoke on “Role of NAIO to Drive the Malaysia AI Ecosystem.” He explained that NAIO, as the main body coordinating Malaysia’s AI industry, aims to build an efficient and collaborative AI ecosystem. Its current work focuses on three areas: setting industry policies and standards, bringing together resources from industry, academia, and research, and creating a multi-level talent development system. He also recognized the contributions of leading companies like HONOR in technology innovation and youth empowerment. He expressed hope to deepen cooperation with companies like HONOR in AI research and talent development, and welcomed partners from across APAC to work together to advance Malaysia’s AI industry toward higher-end and more international standards.

Two major ceremonies at the summit became the highlights of the event. During the launch of the AI + Youth Empowerment Society (AYES) initiative, representatives from more than 20 academic institutions and organizations across the Asia-Pacific region gathered to witness the moment. As a professional platform focused on youth empowerment, the AYES initiative will bring together HONOR’s technological resources, universities’ educational strengths, and practical industry experience. It will carry out a series of activities in the AI and design field, including talent development, project incubation, and academic exchanges, providing a broad stage for young people in the Asia-Pacific region to showcase their skills and helping them become a new driving force for industry development.

Another key highlight of the summit was the Asia-Pacific launch and book handover ceremony of the series New Logics of Artificial Intelligence in Art and Design. Professor Wu Yabin, Ambassador of the World Economic Council and China Representative, together with Professor Zhuo Fan, Vice Dean of the School of Urban Design at the Central Academy of Fine Arts, attended the ceremony on behalf of the editorial board to officially present the books to NAIO. The series brings together cutting-edge research and practical experience from the global AI and design fields. This book handover is expected to serve as an important reference for academic research, policy making, and talent development in Malaysia’s AI sector, helping to build a comprehensive local AI knowledge system.

The summit also featured two expert panel discussions. At “Art & Technology, the Future of Design,” experts and scholars from Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, and other countries engaged in lively discussions on design innovation and the integration of technology. “Youth Empowerment, the Future of APAC” focused on opportunities for young people in the AI era, providing insights and suggestions for the development of regional youth talent. In his closing remarks, Justin Li, President of HONOR South Pacific, summarized the outcomes of the summit and reiterated that HONOR will continue to pursue open collaboration, working with partners to build an intelligent, inclusive, and sustainable industrial ecosystem.

The successful 2025 HONOR AI + Design Summit (APAC Edition) not only created a bridge for exchange in AI and design between China, Malaysia, and the wider APAC region but also promoted regional resource integration and collaboration through practical initiatives such as the launch of the AYES initiative and the book handover. In the future, as cooperation grows, it will help drive innovation in the AI and design industries across the Asia-Pacific and bring lasting energy to regional economic growth and youth development.