As one of the five summits of 2021 China International fair For Trade in Services (CIFTI), the Forum on Trends and Latest Development of Digital Trade was held in China National Convention Center in Beijing on the morning of September 3. With the theme of "Building a New Digital Ecosystem, Exploring New Trade Rules", the forum brought together influential guests and renowned experts and scholars in the industry to conduct in-depth discussions and exchanges on building a digital governance system, eliminating the digital divide, and boosting the digital process of service trade.
"Digital trade is a powerful way to promote post-COVID-19 economic recovery," said Wang Bingnan, member of CPC Leadership Group and Vice Minister of the Ministry of Commerce.
Vigorously developing digital trade and actively carrying out international cooperation in digital trade is not only an important way for China to advance supply-side structural reform and transform growth drivers, but also a strategic choice to promote positive interplay between domestic circulation and international circulation and develop new systems for a higher-standard open economy, and a powerful step to promote economic recovery after the epidemic and to actively cope with momentous changes in the world of a kind unseen in a century.
"Promote high-quality development of digital economy and digital trade in four areas," said Han Xia, Chief Engineer of Ministry of Industry and Information Technology.
Accelerating our efforts to create a new development pattern to promote high-quality development of China's digital economy and digital trade. Intensify efforts to make major breakthroughs in core technologies in key fields, consolidate digital infrastructure, actively guide enterprises in digital transformation, and energetically participate in the building of a global digital governance system.
"Keep a firm hold on the golden period of digital trade development," said Cui Shuqiang, member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Beijing Municipal Committee and Executive Vice Mayor of the People's Government of Beijing Municipality.
After years of development, Beijing has become the leading city in the development of digital economy in China. In 2020, the added value of Beijing's digital economy accounted for 40 percent of the city's GDP. Internet and digital economy-related enterprises gathered, with more than 3,900 software and information service enterprises of designated size, and 93 unicorn enterprises in the city. We will keep a firm hold on the golden period of digital trade development by combining the construction of “two zones”, the global digital economy benchmark city, and the central city for international consumption. We will also explore and promote the high-quality development of digital trade to build a high land for foreign cooperation in digital economy with a more open, inclusive and innovative attitude.
"Promote sustainable development with digital technologies and trade," said Mohan Munasinghe, Nobel Peace Prize winner and former senior adviser to the World Bank.
In 2012, we would need 1.5 earths to sustain our current lifestyle; and by 2030, this figure will be 2, which is unachievable. With the rich people, who represent 20% of the world’s population, consuming 85% of the resources, sustainable development is the best way to limit climate change, and digital technology and trade can accelerate this process.
"Digital copyright trade is an active force in the new era," said Yan Xiaohong, Deputy Director of the Culture, Literature, History and Study Committee of the 13th National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference and former Deputy Director of the State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television.
The boundaries of copyright are also expanding, with software, games, animation and even mobile phone covers now subject to copyright protection. The trade in digital rights has become an increasingly large part of the digital economy.
"5G gives China new competitive advantages in digital trade," said Zhang Ping, academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, and professor of Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications.
As a key infrastructure, basic digital services play an important role in the development of digital trade and can support the development of almost all digital services and digital service trade. Digital industrialization and industrial digitization as well as digital governance and intelligent living bring huge opportunities for trade in digital services and the value-added role of technology provided by the new scenarios of 5G applications.
In addition, guests such as Zhang Wenyi, Global Vice President of Amazon, Huang Chenhong, Global Executive Vice President of SAP, Gao Liqiang, Vice President of Jingdong Group, Zhang Kuo, Vice President of Alibaba Group, Qi Xiangdong, Chairman of QI-ANXIN Group, Qian Kun, Global Senior Vice President of Qualcomm, Dai Wenyuan, founder and CEO of 4 Paradigm, and Wu Wenjie, founder and CEO of Anmai Cloud, also delivered keynote speeches at the forum and brought brilliant views.
Three major outcomes were released at this forum. Wang Dongtang, Deputy Director of the Department of Services and Trade of the Ministry of Commerce, released the Report on the Development of China’s Digital Trade 2020. Hong Jingyi, Deputy Secretary General of the Chinese Institute of Electronics, released the Study on the Implementation Path of Data-driven Industrial Innovation. Wang Baoyou, Chief Engineer of China Industrial Internet Research Institute, released the China Industrial Internet Industry Development Index Report (2021).
