China International Big Data Industry Expo 2017 has kicked off in Guiyang in Southwest China’s Guizhou province. Over 50,000 participants from around the world are attending the four-day event, themed “Digital Economy Drives New Growth,” to discuss the new possibilities and opportunities in the industry.

Vice-Premier Ma Kai addressed the opening ceremony, saying China will seek innovation in the realm of big data to help manufacturing and economic growth.

Various forums and activities are being held at the expo, covering topics such as national big data pilot zone, digital economy, block chain, digital security and risk control, data sharing and opening, Artificial Intelligence and smart manufacturing.

Various state-of-art exhibits and bulletins are featured by hundreds of top-level domestic and international enterprises attending the China International Big Data Industry Expo 2017.[Photo/CGTN]

Big data is changing humans’ life, with big data and business analytics market predicted to be worth over $203 billion in the year 2020, up from 130 billion in 2016, according to research firm International Data Corporation (IDC).

The outlook of the sector is revealed in numerous state-of-art exhibits and bulletin boards featured by hundreds of top-level domestic and international enterprises at the expo. Companies like Alibaba, are displaying face recognition technology and e-government and civil services.

Although China’s big data storage is said to be increasing by 50 percent annually, most companies are keeping low profile, and centering their focus on basic research and development.

Due to growing privacy concerns in the big data processing, China passed its Network Security Law last November, which will come into effect in June.