An unmanned electric vehicle of Volkswagen company is displayed during the CeBIT in Hannover, Germany, on June 11, 2018. The world's largest trade exhibition for computer technology CeBIT opened on Monday in Hannover. (Xinhua/Wang Qing)

BERLIN, June 11 (Xinhua) -- The world's largest trade exhibition for computer technology CeBIT opened on Monday in Hannover.

It's the first time for the annual event to be held in summer since its inception.

Speaking to press on Monday, CeBIT director Oliver Frese said that this year's revamped CeBIT was hereby intended to function as a "trade fair, conference and networking event all in one."

CeBIT 2018 placed a topical focus on artificial intelligence (AI), humanoid robots and self-driving vehicles.

The organizers expect between 2,500 and 2,800 exhibitors from 70 countries and regions to present their innovations in Hannover from June 11 to June 15.

Peter Altmaier (CDU), the German minister for the economy, is scheduled to visit the computer expo on Tuesday.

Starting back in 1986, CeBIT has been attracting visitors from across the world for nearly 30 years.

CeBIT director Frese emphasized at the opening of the 2018 event that digitalization "never stands still" and that the trade fair will most likely draw global industry representatives for many decades to come.