Chair’s Statement of Global Development Initiative Digital Cooperation Forum 2023

2023-11-09
| wicinternet.org

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I. As we mark the 10th anniversary of the World Internet Conference Wuzhen Summit, the Global Development Initiative Digital Cooperation Forum was held on November 9, 2023 in Wuzhen. High-level representatives from relevant agencies under United Nations, international organizations, research institutes, industrial organizations and enterprises held in-depth discussions around digital cooperation under the Global Development Initiative (GDI).

II. Digitization is a major sign of the new technological revolution underway. It also represents an important channel to address development deficit, help states to overcome multiple crises, achieve economic and social leapfrog development, and build a community with a shared future in cyberspace. At the 76th session of the UN General Assembly held in September 2021, Chinese President Xi Jinping proposed the GDI, having made digital economy one of the priority areas for cooperation, calling for the international community to deepen cooperation on digital technology, digital economy and digital security, strengthen digital infrastructural development, promote technology transfer and knowledge sharing, elevate the capacity for digital governance, and close digital and technological gaps. China is ready to work with all parties to further implement digital cooperation under the GDI.

III. Over the past two years, GDI built international consensus on promoting development, encouraging the international community to refocus on development issues and renew commitment to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. It has effectively mobilized international community to increase inputs of resources to build platforms for development of eight priority areas including digital economy, promoting knowledge sharing and capacity building on development. It has provided a strong boost to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda as well as getting the Sustainable Development Goals back on track. Broad consensus are built among all the parties through setting up platforms for exchanges under the GDI.

IV. In November 2022, the First Global Development Initiative Digital Cooperation Forum was held in Wuzhen. More than 150 participants from domestic and foreign governments, relevant agencies under United Nations, international organizations, research institutes, industrial organizations and enterprises had exchanges and discussions on topics such as deepening international cooperation on digital economy, strengthening capacity building on digital governance, and sharing the dividends of digital technology development. The Non-paper on Global Development Initiative Digital Cooperation unveiled at the Forum called for intensifying digital cooperation under the GDI and building a closer community with a shared future in cyberspace.

V. To accelerate the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, enable the developing countries to share more digital dividends and promote shared prosperity of the world, the guests from all parties gathered again in Wuzhen for the Global Development Initiative Digital Cooperation Forum 2023, holding discussions around three main topics, with a view to steering global development toward a new stage of balanced, coordinated and inclusive growth and building a community with a shared future in cyberspace.

1. Stimulating new impetus of innovative growth for high quality development of digital economy

Accelerate the pace of information infrastructure development in developing countries, improve digital access, promote connectivity, close digital gaps, and fully leverage the advantages of digital economy featuring balance, mutual benefit and win-win outcome.

Follow the trend of global digital transformation, promote digital transformation of traditional industries, deepen integration among enterprises, universities and research institutes, boost full integration between the digital and real economies, and speed up the process of digital industrialization and industrial digitization to inject strong impetus into global development.

Improve the safety and stability of the global industrial and supply chains, stand against decoupling and supply chain disruption, make joint efforts to keep global industrial and supply chains smooth, efficient, open, inclusive and mutually beneficial, create a more coordinated, flexible, inclusive and open market environment, and make digital economy a bright spot in global economic growth.

2. Enhancing capabilities for digital governance and promoting digital technology innovation and cooperation

Commit to a vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative, and sustainable security, and put equal emphasis on development and security, build consensus through dialogue and cooperation, increase strategic mutual trust, strengthen communication and coordination in the fields such as artificial intelligence(AI), digital economy, data security, personal information protection and develop open, fair, and efficient governing mechanisms.

Actively engage in capacity building and policy practice sharing in digital governance, elevate digital literacy and skills of the general public, enhance the digital adaptation, competency and creativity of the general public and establish a multilateral, democratic and transparent digital governance system.

Currently, the fast development of AI around the globe has exerted profound influence on socioeconomic development and the progress of human civilization, and brought huge opportunities to the world. However, AI technologies also bring about unpredictable risks and complicated challenges. The governance of AI, a common task faced by all countries in the world, bears on the future of humanity. Against this backdrop, China put forward Global AI Governance Initiative and welcomes all the parties to get involved in cooperation under this initiative. We should work together to promote healthy, safe and orderly development of AI globally, strengthen AI governance, so as to realize win-win cooperation and common development.

3. Deepening international cooperation in the digital field for global sustainable development

Humankind is a community with a shared future. Win-win cooperation is the sure way to success in launching major initiatives that benefit all. We need to carry out bilateral and multilateral cooperation in the digital field, maintain and improve multilateral digital economy governance mechanism, encourage active involvement of all parties and improve dialogue and consultation mechanism in cyberspace.

We should practice true multilateralism, fully support the United Nations to serve as the main channel in global cyberspace governance, stand against forming closed and exclusive small groups, firmly oppose the practice of seeking technology blockade and protectionism, abandon ideological prejudice, and oppose cyber hegemony and power politics.

We should fully leverage the advantages of the Internet featuring innovation, driving force and inclusiveness, promote innovation exchanges, technological opening and resources sharing in the digital field, and further international cooperation in technical standards and ethical principles. We need to create more converging points of interests, growth areas for cooperation and new highlights for win-win outcomes, enabling digital economic development deliver greater benefits to the people across the world.

Digital cooperation under the GDI is a long-term process with steady improvement. China is ready to work with all the parties to institutionalize the Global Digital Initiative Digital Cooperation Forum, to constantly advance digital cooperation under the GDI, accelerate the development of digital cooperation landscape where more countries and people could share the outcomes of digital technology development.