Global ministers call for inclusive digital development at WIC forum in Xi’an

The 2026 World Internet Conference (WIC) Digital Silk Road Development Forum opened in Xi'an, Shaanxi province, on July 22, marking the second time the forum has been held in the starting point of the ancient Silk Road.

For the first time, the forum featured a ministerial session, bringing together ministerial-level officials from nearly 20 countries, including Bangladesh, Senegal, Cuba, Nicaragua, Samoa, Cambodia, Myanmar, Tajikistan, Angola and Zambia. 

Under the theme "Promoting Inclusive and Universally Beneficial Development and Sharing the Benefits of Digital and Intelligent Innovation", participants exchanged views on AI governance, digital infrastructure development and bridging the digital divide.

The meeting was chaired by Ren Xianliang, secretary-general of the WIC.

In his opening remarks, Ren said as AI governance has become a shared global priority, the ministerial meeting was designed to provide a high-level platform for dialogue, bringing together participants to build consensus and deepen practical cooperation. It aimed to unlock the growth potential of the digital economy, helping Belt and Road partner countries share the benefits of digital and AI-driven development, he added.

Addressing global imbalances through openness and cooperation

Francis Gurry, vice-chair of the WIC and former director general of the World Intellectual Property Organization, opened the discussion by highlighting growing structural imbalances in global digital development.

He said the WIC forum focused on digital and intelligent innovation and development, with an agenda that reflected the priorities of the times and the evolving global landscape. While investment in AI continues to surge, traditional international development financing is shrinking, he said. Citing the Bank for International Settlements' Annual Economic Report 2026, he noted that AI capital expenditure by the world's five leading cloud service providers is expected to exceed $1 trillion between 2025 and 2026.

Gurry warned that this widening gap between investment in digital technologies and funding for global capacity building poses long-term risks. Intensifying technological competition, export controls on advanced technologies and tighter restrictions on foreign investment are limiting international cooperation, creating a paradox in which digital technologies capable of connecting the world are increasingly constrained by protectionism, according to Gurry.

He stressed that international cooperation in science, technology and the digital economy should be grounded in fairness, transparency and commonly accepted rules while respecting countries' different stages of development.

Calling for cooperation between governments and leading technology companies, Gurry said stronger public-private partnerships are essential to advancing digital capacity building worldwide. 

Countries chart diverse paths toward digital transformation

Representatives from government agencies in Tunisia, Kazakhstan, the Republic of the Congo, Laos and Guinea shared the experiences of their home countries in advancing digital transformation and outlined their visions for expanding cooperation with China under the Digital Silk Road framework.

Tunisia

Sofiene Hemissi, minister of communication technologies of Tunisia, said the country is expanding digital infrastructure, extending broadband connectivity to inland and rural areas, and promoting nationwide digital literacy to ensure technology benefits all.

He called for a people-centered global AI governance framework that respects data sovereignty and warned against technological monopolies that could limit opportunities for developing countries. 

He also expressed hope that Tunisia and China would work together to build his country into a digital innovation hub in North Africa, with digital solutions that could eventually benefit the wider African continent.

Kazakhstan 

Dmitriy Goloburda, deputy director of the Central Communications Service under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, said inclusive digital transformation has become a national development priority. 

He noted that the country's new constitution, which entered into force this year, recognizes digital rights as an integral part of human rights by incorporating personal data protection into constitutional safeguards.

Within the framework of the China-Kazakhstan comprehensive strategic partnership, the introduction of WeChat Pay and Alipay in Kazakhstan has facilitated cross-border travel and people-to-people exchanges, providing a practical example of digital cooperation that benefits the public, he said.

Goloburda also proposed launching a China-Kazakhstan Year of Joint AI Initiatives, saying AI should serve as a tool for better governance and sustainable economic and social development.

Republic of the Congo 

Decambeau Moudiongui-Ko-Goma, chief of staff of the Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications and Digital Economy of the Republic of the Congo, said the country has adopted a three- to five-year digital transformation roadmap.

The country is accelerating the construction of digital public infrastructure, including a national e-government portal, a biometric identity system and a unified payment platform, he said. The country's first national data center is expected to begin operations soon, while work on strengthening cybersecurity continues steadily, he added.

He also highlighted efforts to enhance the country's digital self-reliance by promoting the localization of key technologies, cultivating local digital talent and expanding digital services in rural communities.

Laos

Xayluxa Insisiengmay, deputy minister of technology and communications of Laos, said the country is currently formulating a national AI strategy and developing LaoAI, a large language model designed around the Lao language and culture. 

Leveraging abundant hydropower resources, Laos also plans to build a green, low-carbon AI computing hub and welcomes international investment and cooperation, he said. Insisiengmay emphasized that developing countries should actively participate in developing global digital standards and AI governance frameworks instead of remaining passive technology users.

Guinea 

Souleymane Bah, secretary general of the Ministry of Communication, Digital Economy and Innovation of Guinea, said digital infrastructure has become a strategic pillar of the country’s Simandou 2040 Programme.

Recognizing Africa's large and youthful population, Guinea has made digital talent development a national priority, he noted. He said Guinea plans to establish a national science and technology park focusing on AI, cybersecurity, cloud computing and robotics, as well as innovation laboratories on mining, agriculture, healthcare and education.

As the first sub-Saharan African country to establish diplomatic relations with China, he said Guinea looks forward to expanding cooperation with Chinese enterprises in science parks, data centers, talent cultivation, startup incubation and technology transfer.

Advancing cooperation for a shared digital future

In his closing remarks, Ren said the WIC will continue promoting policy dialogue, industry collaboration and technology exchanges to deepen international cooperation and advance the building of a community with a shared future in cyberspace.

The meeting highlighted a common aspiration for inclusive digital development. In Xi'an, the historical starting point of the ancient Silk Road, participants reaffirmed their commitment to expanding digital cooperation and ensuring that the benefits of digital and intelligent innovation reach more countries and people.