At the 23rd China-ASEAN Expo and the China-ASEAN Business and Investment Summit, China Southern Power Grid presented a suite of innovations aimed at strengthening energy cooperation between China and ASEAN. The showcased technologies, including the DaWatt - Lao Language Large Language Model (LLM) for the Energy and Power Sector V2.0 and the Flexible Grayscale Intelligent Monitoring & Analysis Platform for power system cybersecurity, underscore the growing emphasis on digitalization, intelligent technologies, and green energy in regional collaboration. These developments matter because they address critical challenges in cross-border energy infrastructure, such as language barriers and operational efficiency, while paving the way for more integrated and sustainable energy networks.
The Lao-language LLM has already been deployed at Electricité du Laos Transmission Company Limited (EDL-T), where it automates the analysis of thousands of inspection images. After optimizing its algorithms for Laos' mountainous and rainforest terrain, the model completed intelligent inspection analysis for four transmission lines, processing 26,000 drone inspection images and identifying over 3,600 equipment defects. This capability significantly enhances maintenance accuracy and speed, reducing risks in harsh environments. Liu Ying, general manager of the Digitalization Department at Guangxi Power Grid Co., Ltd., noted that the company is building multilingual professional corpora for the power sector, covering ASEAN countries including Laos, Vietnam, and Malaysia. By leveraging the DaWatt foundation model, they are developing energy and power models tailored to ASEAN languages and real-world applications, which could standardize technical exchanges and boost operational safety across the region.
Talent development is another cornerstone of this cooperation. The China-ASEAN Institute of Energy, jointly established by Guangxi Power Grid Co., Ltd. and Guangxi University, is pioneering an industry-university training model with a strong practical focus. Two cohorts totaling 53 students from ASEAN countries have enrolled, signaling a shift from one-way training to joint innovation. This approach not only builds local expertise but also fosters long-term partnerships. For instance, Guangxi Power Grid Co., Ltd. and the Royal Academy of Cambodia have jointly established a laboratory for artificial intelligence and safety equipment, while peer-to-peer exchanges with Electricité du Laos aim to improve power supply reliability. Such initiatives are crucial for creating a self-sustaining ecosystem of skilled professionals who can drive energy transitions.
To overcome language barriers in cross-border technical exchanges, Guangxi Power Grid Co., Ltd. has developed an AI-powered translation platform backed by a specialized database containing terminology for more than 1,800 types of power equipment. The platform supports accurate translation between Chinese and English, Chinese and Lao, and Chinese and Vietnamese. At a recent training program for Chinese and overseas engineers, the system enabled one-click generation of bilingual course materials and real-time speech translation, helping participants navigate highly specialized power-sector terminology. This tool is instrumental in facilitating seamless communication and knowledge transfer, which are essential for collaborative projects.
Furthermore, Guangxi Power Grid Co., Ltd. has established an international talent pool covering management, technical, and skilled personnel, along with 24 hours of courses on international affairs and 20 short-form video courses. Sun Xiaohua, deputy director of the Human Resources Department, stated, "This year, we will also explore joint postgraduate programs with universities in ASEAN countries." Looking ahead, the company plans to advance a development model featuring "R&D in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangdong, integration in Guangxi, and application in ASEAN." It will continue expanding multilingual power-sector corpora and explore a "Token Goes Global" model for power-sector AI, with computing resources and models based in Guangxi while knowledge services are delivered overseas. This strategy aims to create new forms of China-ASEAN energy cooperation and support the green development of the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area 3.0, highlighting the broader implications for regional economic integration and sustainable growth.
