Dear Mr. Suriyan Vichitlekarn, Executive Director of MI,
Distinguished participants,
Ladies and gentlemen,
Good morning. Congratulations on the holding of this Workshop on Digital Connectivity in the Lancang-Mekong Countries and it’s my pleasure to join you in the discussion. I am confident that the workshop will contribute to advancing the digital economy development and the digital transformation of SMEs in sub-regional countries.
Ladies and gentlemen,
The world is undergoing momentous changes of a scale unseen in a century. In the context of the new round of technological revolution and industrial transformation, as well as the deep reconstruction of the global industrial and supply chain catalyzed by COVID-19 pandemic, digital economy is booming as a new tide of our time. It has become a key driving force to reorganize the factors and resources of production, reshape the global economic structure, and revitalize world economic growth. The pandemic has been a catalyse to accelerate the digital transformation in economy and society. It is estimated that the digital economy will account for 8.5% of GDP of ASEAN countries in 2025. Sub-regional countries including China face the common task of realizing sustainable development and recovery, we shall firmly seize the digital opportunities to promote digital connectivity and digital economy, and deepen the integration of SMEs and other sectors into the digital age.
Firstly, strengthening digital infrastructure construction. Digital infrastructure is the prerequisite for fostering digital connectivity and digital economy. Countries need to vigorously build the digital infrastructures in the following 3 areas: the telecommunication network infrastructure such as international optical cables, 5G, and the Internet of Things. The computing power infrastructures such as data centers, intelligence computation centers. The new technology infrastructure such as AI, cloud computing, block-chain and etc.. These will help to bridge the digital divide and consolidate the foundation of digital economy development.
Secondly, strengthening policy guidance and support. Digital economy should be integrated into national development plans to enhance the integrated development of the real economy and the digital economy while carefully making the top-level design of the digital transformation in economy and society. Efforts should be made to solve the financing problems in the digital transformation of enterprises. In particular SMEs should be provided with strong financial policy support. Investment in digital technology research and development should be strongly encouraged to promote entrepreneurship and innovation.
Thirdly, cultivating digital talents. Digital economy is technology-driven, and talents are the endogenous driving force for the digital economy development. large number of talents are in demand by by various companies in AI, big data, cloud computing, block-chain, intelligent manufacturing and other fields. Governments, enterprises and universities need to work together to improve the education and vocational training system of digital talents while increasing education investment. In this regard, MI can play its advantages in promoting digital human resources development by implementing practical training projects in the sub-region.
Fourthly, deepening regional cooperation. Subregional countries can make full use of the opportunities offered by the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation, MI and other platforms to deepen the synergy of digital economy development plans and partnership. We should actively advance regional cooperation on digital economy, share good practices and experiences, and promote the connectivity of digital economy policies, standards and infrastructure. For this purpose, the high-quality “Belt and Road” cooperation can provide excellent potentials to strengthen sub-regional digital economic cooperation.
While digital cooperation is the main theme, we also notice that in recent years some countries have launched the so-called "Clean Network" program and are seeking to establish the so-called " Alliance for the Future of the Internet". The implicit true purpose of these programs is to create exclusive blocs and build digital technology monopoly and cyber hegemony. if succeeded, they will deprive developing countries of the capabilities to improve scientific and technological development and the chances to enjoy the dividend of digital economy and technological progress. They will lock developing countries at the bottom of the global value chain and leave developing countries behind again in a new and great industrial revolution. This runs counter to the Internet spirit of peace, security, openness, and cooperation, and will seriously damage science and technology innovation and the common development of the international community, particularly the developing countries.
Ladies and gentlemen,
China has been actively implementing the new development philosophy and has been advancing the construction of a "Digital China". China’s progress in digital economy have attracted worldwide attention. China has become the second largest digital economy in the world. In 2020, the scale of digital economy in China was reached 5.4 trillion U.S. dollars, accounting for 38.6% of the GDP. China attaches high importance to international cooperation in the digital economy and adheres to true multilateralism. China has proposed the Global Initiative on Data Security and has applied to join the Digital Economy Partnership Agreement, aiming to work together with all partners to promote digital governance for healthy and orderly digital economy development. China actively builds its digital economy free trade zones, participate in global construction of digital infrastructures. We accelerate the cooperation on the Digital Silk Road to share development opportunities brought by digital economy with other developing countries including the sub-regional countries.
China and ASEAN are natural partners in advancing the cooperation on Digital Silk Road. Last year was the China-ASEAN Digital Economy Cooperation Year. The two sides formally established the digital economy partnership and held nearly 20 cooperation activities in areas such as digital pandemic response, 5G, AI, industrial digital transformation and etc.. In last September, Huawei established a 5G innovation center in Thailand, which would improve the digital capabilities of local SMEs. In July this year, China successfully hosted the ASEAN-China Digital Economy Development and Cooperation Forum. In September, during the China-ASEAN Expo, China held the Digital and E-commerce Cooperation Training Course for Lancang-Mekong Countries on the digital transformation of the sub-region. Furthermore, China works together with ASEAN countries to build digital cooperation platforms such as the China-ASEAN Digital Trade Center and China-ASEAN Information Harbor which will deepen and solidify the mutual cooperation on digital economy.
Ladies and gentlemen,
This year marks the 100th anniversary of the Communist Party of China(CPC). Last month, the Sixth Plenary Session of the 19th CPC Central Committee was successfully held. The Plenary Session comprehensively summarized the major achievements and historical experience of the CPC in the past century. Under the guidance of the principles of amity, sincerity, mutual benefit, and inclusiveness and the policy of forging friendship and partnership with our neighbors, China will strengthen joint efforts with sub-regional partners to advance high-quality BRI cooperation and Lancang-Mekong Cooperation, to promote digital transformation of SMEs and digital connectivity in the sub-region so as to make new contributions to the prosperity of the sub-region for a community of shared future for the Lancang-Mekong countries.
Thank you.