The Chinese internet has grown at a staggering pace -- it now has more users than the combined populations of the US, UK, Russia, Germany, France and Canada. Even with its imperfections, the lives of once-forgotten populations have been irrevocably elevated because of it, says South China Morning Post CEO Gary Liu. In a fascinating talk, Liu details how the tech industry in China has developed -- from the innovative, like AI-optimized train travel, to the dystopian, like a social credit rating that both rewards and restricts citizens.

Gary Liu: The rapid growth of the Chinese internet -- and where it's headed

The rapid growth of the Chinese internet -- and where it's headed

China's tech leap, driven by necessity, transforms 290 million migrant workers' lives, making the grueling journey home a digital ease.

Rural revival through e-commerce: Luo's story of returning home to sell fermented bean curd online illustrates tech's power to uplift.

Innovation in education bridges urban-rural divide, with digital classrooms offering rural students a path to broader horizons.