September 26 - Reference News recently published an article titled Global Embracement of Development Opportunities from "Digital China" — Insights from Big Data Expo 2024. The full text is as follows:

In 1994, the launch of a 64K international leased line marked China's full-fledged integration into the global internet. Thirty years ago, it was unimaginable how profoundly the internet would transform China's way of life and its interactions with the world.

Over the past decade, with the rapid development and extensive application of next-generation information technologies such as big data, the digital economy has emerged. At the recent China International Big Data Industry Expo 2024 (also known as Big Data Expo 2024) in Guiyang, more than 20,000 participants from 32 countries and regions keenly experienced the boundless vitality and dynamism emanating from the accelerated and enhanced construction of Digital China amidst the integration of digitization and intelligentization. Through exposure to Chinese products,  solutions, and wisdom, foreign participants also drew insights and sought cooperation opportunities relevant to the industrial development of their own countries.

Seeking new digital applications

How to leverage advanced AI design models to seamlessly integrate traditional jewelry art with modern technology; how to incorporate various intelligent systems to enhance the safety, convenience, and energy efficiency of African households...With these questions in mind, foreign delegates engaged in technical discussions with Chinese exhibitors at the Big Data Expo 2024, aiming to identify solutions.

An Australian exhibitor said, "This event not only provides us with a platform to showcase our capabilities but also fosters closer relationships with partners in China and around the globe."

Faced with the rapid development of digital technology, both developing and developed countries need to meet these challenges. SAP, a German company founded in 1972, pioneered the ERP systems that underpin corporate management. "As a multinational corporation, we entered China in 1992," said Huang Chenhong, Global Executive Vice President, of SAP SE and of SAP Greater China "Under the principle of 'Serving China in China', we have served over 16,000 Chinese clients, including 60% of the leading enterprises."  With the advent of the AI era, high-quality data has become a crucial element for business growth. Consequently, SAP has introduced the concept of Business AI, aiming to integrate intelligent AI deeply with enterprise management, business, production, and operational processes to enhance the value of enterprise operations and promote high-quality development.

"Empowering the globalization of Chinese enterprises is one of our key objectives, enabling them to leverage data and intelligence effectively to achieve greater success in high-quality development and the advancement of new productive forces," said Huang.

Exploring new mechanisms for digital governance

The value of data is enhanced only when it is in motion，yet the pervasive "data silos" pose a global challenge. The International Data Spaces Association (IDSA), based in Berlin, Germany, is dedicated to establishing a data-sharing mechanism that fosters mutual respect and trust among all parties.

"Data holds immense value, yet its full potential remains untapped," observed Thorsten Tolksdorf, Secretary General of IDSA. Sharing data forms the foundation for the future utilization of big data and is essential for AI services. The association boasts some 200 members across the globe, including active participation from Chinese members in the development of international standards.

"The dissemination and sharing of data are crucial for driving innovation," stated Noboru Koshizuka, Chairperson of the Data Society Alliance of Japan. While applications such as autonomous vehicles, smart cities, and AI are driven by data, many corporate data sets are all driven by data, yet many corporate datasets remain siloed regrettably. Noboru Koshizuka, a veteran in shaping data industry policies, has long collaborated with China and other countries to establish policies, thereby ensuring the secure and organized movement of data across borders.

China prioritizes the development of the digital economy as a national strategy. The Overall Plan for the Construction of Digital China, unveiled in February of the previous year, has drawn global attention. The plan's roadmap aims for China's significant digital progress by 2025 and to rank among the world leaders in digital development by 2035.

Over the past year, the development of the global data space has significantly accelerated. Studies indicate that over 90% of this space is collaboratively built by diverse entities, including businesses, research institutions, tech service providers, and industry associations, with roughly one-third of this space involving collaborative efforts across multiple countries.

Enhancing innovative models of digital cooperation

"Data serves as the foundation, and intelligence is its application. I often illustrate this with the analogy of fuel and fire; the more fuel, the more intense the fire, and the higher the quality of the fuel, the more splendid the flame becomes," said Mei Hong, a member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and a professor at Peking University, during the Big Data Expo 2024. He highlighted that the ongoing digital transformation has become a worldwide trend, necessitating profound collaboration and integration across various industries centered on the theme of informatization to achieve their own transformation.  

A study on the data industry organized by Beijing Jiaotong University (BJTU) and other institutions during the Big Data Expo 2024 revealed that there are over 190,000 enterprises in China's data domain. "We anticipate that the data industry will continue to see a growth rate of more than 20% from 2023 to 2030," said Prof. Zhang Xianghong from the International Center for Informatics Research, BJTU.

With a plethora of digital application scenarios, robust digital infrastructure, and a highly skilled workforce, Digital China is infusing significant momentum into the global economic recovery and growth. Furthermore, it is continuously expanding and deepening international digital cooperation.  

At the Forum on China-Africa Digital Cooperation in July 2024, China and 26 African countries jointly issued the China-Africa Action Plan for Digital Cooperation Development. The plan outlines the promotion and widespread adoption of digital technologies by China and Africa, the acceleration of digital transformation across various industries such as agriculture, manufacturing, mining, energy, public services, healthcare, education, and retail, the establishment of 10 digital transformation demonstration projects within three years, and the cultivation of 1,000 digital talents.

Statistics from the China Academy of Information and Communications Technology indicate that 17 cities in 15 African countries and over 1,500 companies have chosen Chinese enterprises as their partners in digital transformation, with 29 countries adopting smart government solutions provided by Chinese enterprises. Chinese enterprises have also contributed to the construction of fiber-optic broadband networks, 4G/5G mobile communication networks, and satellite services in numerous African countries, establishing a comprehensive high-speed communication network that spans air, space, and ground.

"Visiting this place as an IT engineer is like a dream coming true," said LiaoZiping, a young professional from Laos, after a recent tour of the data center complex in Guizhou's Gui'an New Area.

Gazing upon the undulating mountains of Guizhou, Liao recognized echoes of his homeland and envisioned a path of collaborative development. With the full operation of China-Laos Railway in December 2021, Liao credited the Huawei team for creating a "connected route" essential for the railway's existence, saying, "Without them, China-Laos Railway as we know would not be possible." He believed that the ongoing Belt and Road Initiative, coupled with the development of Digital China, will undoubtedly bring about increased opportunities and development for Southeast Asian countries, including Laos.