WIC holds forum on Digital Silk Road development

With the theme "Connectivity and Shared Prosperity", the World Internet Conference (WIC) Digital Silk Road Development Forum was held on April 16 in Xi'an, Northwest China's Shaanxi province.

Wang Yong, vice-chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference National Committee, and Zhuang Rongwen, chair of the WIC, addressed the opening ceremony, which was presided over by Ren Xianliang, secretary-general of the WIC.

Wang noted that the Chinese government attaches great importance to the development of the digital economy, and advocates for the high-quality development of the Belt and Road empowered by digital technology.

He said that the forum has injected new impetus into the high-quality development of the Belt and Road, and created a new platform for international economic cooperation.

The Chinese government is willing to work with all parties to promote the Digital Silk Road, share the development dividends of the digital economy, and deepen innovation and cooperation in digital technology, according to him.

The country will strengthen exchange and mutual learning in digital culture, and jointly build a normative system on digital governance, contributing to the building of a community with a shared future in cyberspace, Wang added.

Zhao Yide, secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Shaanxi Provincial Committee, delivered the welcoming remarks. Zhao Gang, deputy secretary of the committee and the governor of the province, attended the opening ceremony and gave a speech at the main forum.

Zhuang Rongwen, also minister of the Cyberspace Administration of China, noted that the WIC should inherit the Silk Road spirit, accelerate the building of the Digital Silk Road, and promote the digital transformation and development of countries and regions involved in the Belt and Road Initiative.

He suggested jointly building digital infrastructure and increasing connectivity, promoting digital technological cooperation and realizing coordinated and equally beneficial development, sharing the outcomes of digital civilization and co-existing in peace, exploring international digital governance and safeguarding security in cyberspace.

Zhao Yide noted that Shaanxi is expanding its digital infrastructure, fostering digital industries, upgrading digital platforms and deepening digital governance to build it into a stronger, more open and efficient province.

The province will promote the integrated development of the Digital Silk Road, the Land Silk Road and the Air Silk Road, striving to become an open highland for China's inland reform, he said.

Big names, including Li Junhua, under-secretary-general for Economic and Social Affairs of the United Nations, and Francis Gurry, vice-chair of the WIC, gave remarks on-site or via video link.

The main forum was held after the opening ceremony. It included discussions on the following three topics: "Digital Connectivity and Cooperation in Building the Silk Road", "Silk Road E-commerce International Cooperation", and "Digital Villages and Sustainable Development".

The forum aims to carry forward the Silk Road spirit of peace and cooperation, openness and inclusiveness, mutual learning and mutual benefit, to promote the co-building of the Digital Silk Road, and create a new platform for digital economic cooperation.

The WIC Collection of Cross-Border E-Commerce Practice Cases (2024) was also released at the main forum.

The forum was organized by the WIC and co-organized by the People's Government of Shaanxi Province. Guests from nearly 50 countries and regions attended the meeting.