At the record-breaking 8th China International Import Expo (CIIE), domestic insurers are actively expanding their ecosystems through partnerships with global industry leaders, emerging as a highlight of the event.

Major players such as China Pacific Insurance (Group) Co. (CPIC) and its subsidiaries, Ping An Insurance subsidiaries, and MedTrust Healthcare—backed by shareholder China Re Life—unveiled expansion plans in pension finance, insurtech, new energy insurance, and healthcare. These initiatives aim to forge new alliances while exploring fresh growth opportunities.

"With CIIE being a vital platform for China’s openness, CPIC has safeguarded the event for eight consecutive years. Addressing China’s aging population trend, we’ve upgraded our 'Great Health' strategy to 'Great Wellness,' leveraging CIIE to integrate global expertise and promote Chinese solutions for a high-quality wellness ecosystem," said CPIC Chairman Fu Fan.

**Pension Finance Takes Center Stage** Pension finance, one of China’s "Five Financial Priorities," dominated discussions at CIIE, with insurers seeking to broaden their industrial chains.

Changjiang Pension Chairman Chen Lin emphasized that technological advancements, low-interest environments, and evolving pension systems are reshaping the industry. Over the next five years, pension insurers will focus on retirement savings, investments, and services to build an integrated "insurance + wellness + wealth management" ecosystem.

"Pension finance must break industry barriers and deeply integrate with wellness sectors. Policy guidance, product innovation, and service upgrades are critical to meeting diverse retirement needs," noted Lin Yi, former North Asia MD of T. Rowe Price.

**Healthcare and Auto Insurance Innovations** Ping An’s subsidiary Ping An Good Doctor (PA GOODDOCTOR) announced a strategic partnership with Medtronic to pioneer digital-traditional healthcare integration. Meanwhile, CPIC and automakers like Great Wall Motor and Li Auto unveiled technical standards for autonomous driving accident assessment, highlighting insurance’s role in supporting China’s new energy vehicle (NEV) expansion overseas.

"Insurance is pivotal in securing industrial safety and fostering high-quality development. As Chinese NEVs go global, insurers must expand overseas to provide end-to-end risk and financial solutions," suggested Yang Zhongping of China Association of Automobile Manufacturers.

**AI Reshaping Insurtech** AI took the spotlight at CIIE, with insurtech firm MedTrust launching its AI-powered platform, mind42.ai, to enhance health insurance decision-making via data analytics. Experts highlighted AI’s transformative potential—from precision pricing to drug development—while cautioning that human oversight remains essential for regulatory and strategic alignment.

"AI excels in computational tasks but must be grounded in risk understanding, data quality, and calibration," said Zhang Chu of China Re Life.

Bristol Myers Squibb China VP Deng Yuexin added that AI is unlocking the value of medical data, revolutionizing R&D processes.

The event underscored insurers’ deepening cross-sector collaborations, driven by technology and globalization, to redefine industry boundaries.