On August 25, a meeting to review the Global Digital Economy Conference 2023 (hereinafter referred to the “meeting”) was held in Beijing. Wang Lei, member of the Party Leadership Group and vice director of the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Economy and Information Technology, Guo Jing, an official from the Department of Information Technology Development under the Office of Central Cyberspace Affairs Commission, and Wang Jia, head of the General Affairs Division of the International Cooperation Department of China Association for Science and Technology, attended the meeting and delivered speeches. The meeting was presided over by You Jing, head of the Department of Information Technology and Software Service under the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Economy and Information Technology.
According to its organizing committee, the Global Digital Economy Conference 2023 (hereinafter referred to as the “Conference”) was staged at China National Convention Center from July 4 to 7. At the event, ten pillar projects were launched and more than 100 achievements were released, attracting some 1,000 enterprise exhibitors and millions of visitors. Compared to the previous two editions, the 2023 Conference further expanded in terms of scale, results, brand reputation, and influence, delivering a grand gathering for the development of digital economy to the world.
Since its opening on the evening of July 4 until July 7, the Conference under the overall framework of “1+6+M+N” consisted of an opening ceremony, a main forum, and six summit forums on artificial intelligence, open source technology, data elements, digital security, Internet 3.0, and digital technology across the Himalayas, respectively, as well as 42 thematic forums on new digital infrastructure, new advantages of digital technology, new empowerment of digital industry, new governance of digital economy, etc. At the same time, it featured six sideline events including the Digital Economy Experience Week, the Achievements Exhibition, the “Digital Night” City Pulse Lighting Ceremony, the Global Digital Economy Conference Competition, the First China Digital Concert, and the Achievements Release.
The 2023 Conference also consisted a parallel session in Singapore, at which representatives from both China and Singapore discussed the trends and laws of the development of digital economy and promoted international exchanges and industrial cooperation in the digital field, with an aim to expand open cooperation in the digital field. The Singapore session better displayed Beijing’s achievements in the digital economy, and provided a platform for exchange and cooperation among partner countries, promoting the lasting prosperity and development of the digital economy around the world.
The meeting listened to the achievements reported by the representatives of enterprises in various sectors of the Global Digital Economy Conference 2023, discussed the main issues faced by the Conference and the overall preparation plan for the 2024 Conference. China Association of Communications Enterprises, CCTV, Qi’anxin, Beijing International Big Data Exchange, Zhongguancun Digital Economy Industry Alliance, Beijing Information Association, Beijing Institute of Technology, Harbor Overseas, Beijing Technology and Business University, Shangyicheng, Digital Industry Innovation Research Center, Lhasa Municipal Government, Chaoyang Industrial Park Administrative Committee and other participating institutions briefed on their achievements at the 2023 Conference and their preparatory plans for the 2024 Conference. All of them expressed that they would earnestly implement the instructions and requirements of Beijing Municipal Government to seek innovation year after year, continuously expand the event’s influence, and reach a new level next year.
Wang Lei fully affirmed the fruitful results of the 2023 Conference and expressed his heartfelt thanks to all parties and staff members who cared, supported and participated in the preparation and service work. He also stressed the necessity to deeply analyze the highlights and shortcomings of the preparatory work for the Conference, clarified the ways to improve the event to push it to a new level. In the next stage, while reviewing the results of the Conference, it is necessary to advance the implementation of all outcomes, so as to achieve long-term benefits, he said.
Wang Lei pointed out that on the basis of comprehensively drawing on experience and making every effort to expand the results, we should pay close attention to the preparation for the Global Digital Economy Conference 2024 in the following aspects: First, advancing the preparation at a faster pace. The time for the 2024 Conference should be confirmed, and efforts should be made to solidify the brand of the event; Second, seeking further innovation. With focus on the development trends of the digital economy, we should give more prominence to new models, new technologies and new scenarios of its market-oriented and industrialized development, and enrich and improve the form and content of the Conference; Third, promoting further improvements. We should enhance the event’s global influence by deepening its international layout to attract more iconic, leading, and future-oriented projects.
As a new platform for global exchanges and cooperation in the digital era, the Global Digital Economy Conference has been successfully held for three times. The 4th Conference will maintain the organizational structure of being hosted by Beijing Municipal Government in collaboration with five ministries and commissions of the State Council and the main venue of the previous editions, adhere to the functional positioning of the event to showcase new achievements in the construction of benchmark cities and promote the construction of benchmark cities, and strive to enhance its participation of the international community and its support for the implementation of national strategies.