China-SCO Forum and SCE 2021 Focus on the Digital Economy
PHOTO:CFP
Chinese President Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory letter to the China-Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Forum on the Digital Economy Industry and the Smart China Expo 2021 (SCE 2021), which both opened on August 23 in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality.
In the letter, President Xi said the world has entered a period of rapid growth in the digital economy, in which new technologies, business patterns and platforms such as 5G, artificial intelligence (AI) and smart cities have sprung up and greatly influenced scientific innovation, industrial structure adjustment and economic and social development across the globe.
Xi also noted that on the occasion of the 20th founding anniversary of the SCO, China is willing to, together with other SCO member states, carry forward the Shanghai Spirit and get deeply involved in international cooperation on the digital economy. Digitization, networking and intelligence shall provide more momentum for economic and social development, breaking new ground in digital economy cooperation.
At the main forum, domestic and international guests shared their thoughts on the development of the digital economy.
Wan Gang, president of the China Association for Science and Technology (CAST), pointed out that AI is now driving industrial revolution and the development of the digital economy.
In order to strengthen the systematic breakthroughs of new generation AI, Wan said breakthroughs concerning key technologies and relevant frontier fields should be achieved first. Realizing self-reliance and self-strengthening in AI should also be prioritized.
SCO Secretary-General Vladimir Imamovich Norov said China's development experience in the digital economy and cross-border e-commerce has provided an invaluable model for SCO countries to follow.
Signing ceremonies for cooperation projects were also held. With total contracted investment reaching 252.4 billion RMB, 92 major project agreements were signed, 75 percent of which were related to intelligent manufacturing, the digital economy, science and technology.
