Xiao Yaqing, Huai Jinpeng, Ji Lin deliver speeches at CIFTIS Summit Forum on Trends and Latest Developments of Digital Trade
The Summit Forum on Trends and Latest Developments of Digital Trade was held during the 2020 CIFTIS on the morning of September 5. Xiao Yaqing, Minister of Industry and Information Technology, Huai Jinpeng, Secretary of the Leading Party Members' Group and Executive Vice President of China Association for Science and Technology (CAST), and Ji Lin, Chairman of the Beijing Municipal Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, delivered speeches at the forum.
In his speech, Xiao Yaqing remarked that China's digital economy has grown by leaps and bounds thanks to the concerted efforts of people from all walks of life. With its contribution to GDP reaching a new level, the digital sector now has a firmer foundation. Different sectors have also picked up speed in digitalization, and international cooperation in this area progressed steadily. Noting 2020 is the last year of the 13th Five-Year Plan and a critical year for kicking off a new journey in the upcoming five-year period, Xiao highlighted the formulation of high-quality five-year plans for big data, software, information and communication and other industries under the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. He called for better implementing the strategy for innovative development of the industrial Internet, accelerate manufacturing transformation and upgrade, improve market-based allocation of data as a factor of production, and enhance the capability for data and cyber security. Cooperation would also be strengthened in a sustained and open manner so as to contribute Chinese wisdom and solutions to the digital economy.
Huai Jinpeng described digital trade as a symbol of the digital age, a typical example of how science and technology can empower people, and also the way forward for trade, calling digitalization the hope for mitigating the impacts of the epidemic and hedging the downward economic pressure. Deeming global trust and cooperation as the cornerstone for digital trade, he urged joint efforts to build the digital governance system, align multilateral and regional rules of digital trade, and step up organizational and institutional innovation, so as to share the fruits of digital trade by promoting open source and greater openness. Having established close ties with many international sci-tech organizations, CAST is boosting digital trade by leveraging the international innovation network, building synergy between different sectors and cultivating professionals in the digital sector. Looking forward to working with various parties on the Innovation China platform, Huai emphasized the important role of digital trade in generating new vitality, creating new growth engines and delivering global services for shared prosperity.
Ji Lin thanked people at home and abroad for supporting Beijing's development. He said, the digital wave mainly powered by new-generation information and communication technology is sweeping across the world. As the national center for sci-tech innovations, Beijing views developing digital economy and digital trade as the strategic choice to push forward its high-quality development. Going forward, the capital city will move faster in building the demonstration zone for high-quality digital trade, and empower all links throughout production and transaction process through such technologies as block chain, AI and big data. It will foster new business forms and models for service-oriented manufacturing at a faster pace, and cultivate a batch of leading and unicorn companies in the digital sector that are leading the market and enjoy global influence. It will also establish a sustainable, open and thriving digital trade system to create a new engine driving economic and social development.
Wang Bingnan, Vice Minister of Commerce and Zhao Jiaming, Deputy Editor-in-chief of People's Daily addressed the summit forum. Joseph Stiglitz, Nobel Prize laureate in Economics and Li Daokui, Standing Committee member of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) and member of the Economic Affairs Committee, gave keynote speeches. The Summit Forum on Trends and Latest Developments of Digital Trade is one of the four summit forums of 2020 CIFTIS. Representatives from leading companies, experts and scholars specializing in the field of Internet, IoT and digital economy were invited to discuss the opportunities and challenges faced in this area. Participants also exchanged views on new ideas, new models and new directions for digital trade development, and on building a global platform of dialogue, communication, cooperation and development for digital economies.
Lu Dongliang, Vice Governor of Shanxi Province was present at the summit forum.
(Reporter: Gao Zhi)
