SHANGHAI - GSMA, an international association of mobile operators, announced Friday that it would soon launch its 5G Innovation and Investment Group in China to promote cooperation and innovation in the global communications industry.

John Hoffman, CEO of GSMA Ltd, said at the ongoing 2019 World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) that the group will bring together mobile operators from different countries and regions as well as investors who are focused on emerging technologies such as 5G, artificial intelligence (AI) and Internet of Things (IoT).

"The combination of 5G, AI, big data and IoT forms intelligent connectivity and will transform the way we live," Hoffman said, adding that AI, powered by mobile communication technology, will have the most transformative impact.

Sihan Bo Chen, head of GSMA Greater China, said the 5G Innovation and Investment Group aims to attract more Chinese companies to participate in the global communications ecosystem to jointly promote technological innovation.

"We hope the development of 5G in China will inspire more countries and regions to bring next-generation services to life," she said.

According to a GSMA report, the number of 5G users in China is expected to reach 400 million by 2025, accounting for about one-third of the world's total.