The opening ceremony of the China-ASEAN Workshop on Digital Economy was held in Liangjiang New Area in Chongqing on Jan 17, discussing topics relating to information, communications, and digital economy.

Representatives from information and communications departments in seven ASEAN countries, including Cambodia and Thailand, as well as experts and entrepreneurs in the communications industry in Chongqing attended the event.

"In the information era, data has become a means of production and digital economy is a driver of economic growth and industry transformation," said Chen Jinqiao, deputy chief engineer of the China Academy of Information and Communications Technology.

Chen also noted that "Developing digital economy is now a national strategy."

The three-day event saw attendees discussing five major topics including information and communication technology, digital economy, big data, and cyber security.

An opening ceremony is held for the China-ASEAN Workshop on Digital Economy. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

There was particular focus on developing Chongqing's digital economy and broadband communications as well as improving telecommunications in local rural areas.

Participants also explored the development trajectory of information and communication technologies.

In 2016, China's digital economy had a total value of 22.58 trillion yuan ($3.51 trillion), ranking second in the world and accounting for 30.3 percent of the country's total GDP.

Liu Ziping, deputy head of the International Department of Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, delivers a speech at the China-ASEAN Workshop on Digital Economy. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Liangjiang New Area is carrying out an innovation-driven strategic development plan to stimulate the digital economy and will begin construction on the Liangjiang Digital Economy Industrial Park.

It is expected that by 2020 the park will be home to 3,000 companies and 30 leading enterprises, with a total industrial output worth 40 billion yuan ($6.22 billion).

Liangjiang has made great strides to build itself into a “smart city”, becoming the main driving force behind the development of digital economy and a gathering place for high-tech talents and companies.