BEIJING, July 7 (Xinhua) -- AVEVA, a leading global industrial software provider, has underscored its optimism about China's market potential, highlighting the country's role as a key growth driver and the company's commitment to deepening local engagement.

Chris Lee, AVEVA's senior vice president and head of Asia Pacific, noted that China is the clear leader in the Asia-Pacific region for the company, and has generated abundant successful industrial digital transformation cases.

"China is the leading force in our Asia-Pacific operations," Lee said, adding that the region is rapidly reaping the benefits of transformation. With nearly half of the Asia-Pacific's resources allocated to China, Lee said AVEVA was sending a strong message to its Chinese clients: "We are committed to growing alongside them."

Cui Jingyi, the company's vice president and head of AVEVA China, observed that China has evolved from a follower to a leader in the global digital transformation wave, driven by its mature industrial system, thriving digital economy, and open attitude toward new technologies.

The company's optimism aligns with China's ongoing efforts to advance digitalization, especially in the industrial sector. By mid-March, the country had established over 30,000 basic-level smart factories, 1,200-plus advanced-level smart factories, and more than 230 excellence-level smart factories.

The country has issued nearly 500 national standards for smart manufacturing, with plans to develop over 100 more national and industrial standards by 2026. The recent implementation of a national standard for digital transformation management, the first of its kind in China, provides a framework for enterprises to upgrade their artificial intelligence (AI) applications and accelerate digital transformation.

In addition to traditional industrial sectors, Cui highlighted the significant potential in sectors like fast-moving consumer goods and food & beverage, where digital transformation demands are rising and market opportunities are vast.

She also noted Chinese clients' surging interest in AI applications, particularly since the launch of DeepSeek.

"Many clients have proactively adopted DeepSeek and are exploring how AI can transform their operations," Cui said. However, she emphasized the unique challenges of deploying AI in industrial settings, where high-quality data is critical for training models that meet strict requirements for precision, accuracy, and safety.

Shenoy Janardhan, the company's vice president and head of presales for Asia Pacific, outlined AVEVA's vision for AI in industrial software, including transforming non-intelligent information into smart data and exploring applications like humanoid AI.

"We're looking at natural language processing models to enable voice recognition and direct user interaction," Janardhan said, adding that AI will also be used to simplify user interfaces for better usability.

Despite global uncertainties, AVEVA executives said the company remained committed to increasing its investment in China, aiming to grow in sync with the country and continue its partnership with Chinese clients on their digital transformation journeys.

A key milestone in AVEVA's China strategy is the recent launch of its China Intelligent Innovation Center, the first product R&D hub the company has established in the country.

"This center allows us to better address local market requirements and adapt our software to China's evolving infrastructure and technology landscape," Cui said. It will also focus on fostering open collaboration with local clients and partners to accelerate the deployment of AI solutions in industrial settings.

"AVEVA is confident in China's economic development and proud to be part of China's digitalization drive," she said. "Our commitment to 'In China, For China' is not just a slogan but a tangible action." ■