The expo marked a shift for the city, moving beyond simple industrial hosting to the active export of digital capabilities. A centerpiece of this year's event was the inaugural 'Digital Economy Enterprise Going Global' exchange, accompanied by the release of a new white paper on cross-border data flows. These initiatives aim to standardize digital trade protocols across Belt and Road partner nations, bolstered by the newly signed GEO Industry Standard Self-Regulatory Convention.

Xi'an is banking on these frameworks to cement its status as a premier hub for western China. The city’s digital economy reached 129 billion yuan in 2025, accounting for 9.28% of its total GDP. To sustain this trajectory, officials have launched 303 application requirements targeting sectors like XR, smart tourism, and new energy, while simultaneously developing specialized technology centers for AI algorithms and open-source chips. By fostering an ecosystem that includes both industry giants like Huawei and JD.com alongside specialized small businesses, the city intends to integrate its local R&D output into global big data and cloud computing value chains.