The Global Digital Economy Conference 2023 kicked off on the evening of July 4 at the China National Convention Center. Yin Li, member of the CPC Central Committee Political Bureau and Secretary of the CPC Beijing Municipal Committee, delivered the opening address. Zhuang Rongwen, Deputy Director of the Publicity Department, Director of the Office of the Central Cyberspace Affairs Commission, under CPC Central Committee and Minister of the Cyberspace Administration of China, delivered a speech. Yin Yong, Deputy Secretary of the CPC Beijing Municipal Committee and Mayor of Beijing, presided over the opening ceremony.
Yin Li welcomed the guests and noted that as a new round of sci-tech revolution and industrial transformation continues to evolve, digital technology is profoundly changing the way of production, living, and social governance. It has become a critical factor in leading socio-economic development. With abundant educational, technological, and intellectual resources, Beijing has achieved a series of advanced sci-tech innovations in the digital economy, and attracted a group of leading enterprises in the field, making the digital economy the most dynamic new driver of growth. Going forward, Beijing will ramp up efforts to build itself into a global pacesetter of digital economy, innovate digital technologies, pursue major original innovation results, and strengthen computing capabilities, so as to better facilitate the growth of the digital economy. Beijing will continue to promote the deep integration of the digital economy and the real economy, strengthen the cluster of new-generation information technology, artificial intelligence and other digital industries, and foster more model enterprises in digital economy, so as to create new spaces for high-quality economic growth. Beijing will also push forward smart city development, build new infrastructure, open up scenarios on a larger scale, and carry out the Internet Plus Government Services initiative, thereby continuously empowering the digital transformation of the city. It will speed up the development of a digital society, further digitalize key areas concerning people's well-being, develop digital consumption, and raise the digital literacy of the public, so that people can live a better digital life. The city will intensify international cooperation in the digital field, promote the opening up of the entire digital economy industrial chain, build a digital trade demonstration zone, and participate in the establishment of international rules in the digital field, so as to foster an open and inclusive environment for the development of the digital economy.
In his speech, Zhuang Rongwen emphasized the importance of the digital economy as a key player in reorganizing global resources, restructuring the global economy, and changing the global economic landscape. To promote the development of the digital economy, it is necessary to prioritize innovation-driven development, double down on breakthroughs in original and cutting-edge technologies, and unleash new momentum for high-quality development; it is a must to ensure digital empowerment, foster and grow the core industries of digital economy, and help build a new development pattern; it is vital to be people-centered, make more people the beneficiaries of digital technologies, and promote common prosperity through digital inclusion; it is pivotal to uphold green development, promote the green and high-quality development of the digital infrastructure, and quicken digitalized and green transformation; and it is essential to focus on win-win cooperation, expand dialogue and cooperation on the digital economy, and join hands to build a community with a shared future in cyberspace.
Under the theme of "Data Drives Development, Intelligence Leads the Future", the conference has become more international, professional, and pioneering, which included an opening ceremony, a main forum, six summit forums, six special events, several special forums, and a series of activities. With two previous successful editions, the conference has provided a global platform for the exchange and cooperation of new theories, rules, technologies, industries, and systems of digital economy across countries, disciplines, and sectors.
Release of the Global Digital Economy Partner City Cooperation Initiative
At the opening ceremony, representatives of Beijing and the global digital economy partner cities released the Global Digital Economy Partner Cities Cooperation Initiative. Speakers who spoke in person or via video link included Cong Liang, Vice Chairman of National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC); Wang Jiangping, Vice Minister of Industry and Information Technology; Josephine Teo, Minister for Communications and Information; Ahmed Abdel Hafez, Chairman of the Executive Bureau of the Egyptian Supreme Cybersecurity Council (ESCC); Stefania Giannini, UNESCO Assistant Director-General; and Stephen A. Orlins, President of the National Committee on United States-China Relations. The opening ceremony was attended by leaders from relevant ministries and commissions of China and Beijing municipality, some foreign government officials, heads of international organizations and institutions, as well as representatives from the global digital economy partner cities.
(Written by Fan Junsheng; Photo by Cai Daizheng, Sun Yue; Video by Fan Yu, Zhang Shiqi, Tian Xueyin, Li Qi, Wang Yi)
