EUROPEAN telecommunications companies should work more closely together to boost innovation in 5G, information and communication technology (ICT) and artificial intelligence, Chinese tech giant Huawei suggested at an event held in Rome, capital of Italy, on Wednesday.

In a speech delivered at the Huawei European Innovation Day held at Rome’s prestigious Convention Center La Nuvola, Liang Hua, chairman of the Shenzhen-headquartered  company, stressed his company aimed to build stronger partnerships with Europe’s telecommunications partners on such path.

The Chinese ICT firm has been operating on the continent for over 15 years now.

“We are working to build digitalization in Europe, and helping industry prepare for an intelligent world,” Liang said.

“Huawei will continue to trust in the power of tech innovation, and in the power of openness and collaboration.”

For example, Huawei recently worked with Telecom Italy (TIM) in order to launch the first 5G base stations across the country.

The event organized by the Chinese ICT giant in Rome was broadcast live on social media, and involved experts, private actors and public stakeholders in a common discussion on the perspectives of ICT innovation in societies at a global level.

Key speakers included Turkish professor Erdal Arikan with the Bilkent University in Ankara and inventor of Polar Code for G5, professor Eric Moulines with the Ecole Polytechnique’s Applied Mathematics Center, and Michael Frank, director of Development and Engineering at Leica Camera AG.

Addressing the conference, the head of Strategy Innovation and Customer Experience at TIM agreed with Liang on the key role of 5G as a primary tool of development.

“5G is an important growth factor for Italy, for its industry in terms of increased competitiveness, and for its citizens, who will be able to enjoy the innovative services of the smart city,” Mauro di Mauro said.

This edition of the European Innovation Day was followed by Huawei ECO-Connect Europe 2018, taking place at the same Convention Center La Nuvola on Thursday and Friday.

According to Huawei’s official website, its European activities began in 2000 with the opening of an R&D center in Stockholm. Since Huawei established its operations in Europe, it has been focusing on customer-centric innovation, strong partnership, and building close cooperation with nearly all of the main carriers in Europe.

In 2015, Huawei ranked 4th on the European Patent Office’s ranking of companies by quantity of applications.

Today Huawei has two regional offices in 33 countries and employs more than 10,000 people in Europe.(Xinhua)