Digital transformation key in strength of China-ASEAN friendship

Experts and entrepreneurs from China and ASEAN countries delivered keynote speeches, sharing experiences and professional opinions on digital economy and smart cities from their respective fields.

"Malaysia Digital is a new national strategic initiative to encourage and attract companies, talents and investment while enabling Malaysian businesses and Rakyat (people) to play a leading part in the global digital revolution and digital economy," said Raymond Siva, chief digital investment officer of Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC).

Through various initiatives carried out, such as constant state engagements and summits, the MDEC continues to actively pursue and facilitate digital investment opportunities, he said.

In 2021, the added value of core industries of Shenzhen's digital economy has exceeded 900 billion yuan ($129 billion), accounting for more than 30 percent of the city's GDP, ranking first in China, said Tao Yitao, professor and former deputy secretary of the Party Committee of Shenzhen University and dean of the Belt and Road Research Institute of Shenzhen University.

The solid and rapid development of Shenzhen's digital economy stems from the driving force of institutional innovation, she added.

The digitalization construction of the Lao section of the China-Laos Railway has adopted the solution put forward by the China Academy of Railway Science, which is a successful application of China's railway information technology standard in international railway construction, said Yang Yongjie, project leader of the ITDS of the China-Laos Railway and head of the Dispatch Business Department of the China Academy of Railway Sciences.

Some of the core elements of building new communities in the metaverse are digital people, digital twins, human-computer interaction, blockchain, artificial intelligence and the internet of things, said Luo Jun, executive chairman of the Metaverse Industry Special Committee of the China Computer Industry Association and adjunct professor at Jiangsu University.

Relying on cross-border e-commerce platforms, small and medium-sized enterprises in RCEP members and ASEAN countries are accelerating their expansion into global markets and releasing digital dividends, said Ouyang Cheng, deputy director of AliResearch and director of the Alibaba Cross-Border E-Commerce Research Center.

The success of Smile Shop in Cambodia is due to the advanced business model, the outstanding international team and the excellent localization operation, said Jack Lee, founder and CEO of Smile Shop, the leading e-commerce platform in Cambodia.

Lazada is committed to further promote sustainable digital ecosystems in Southeast Asia, building the digital service capability with logistics, technology and payment as the core, said Xu Yinghai, cross border government affairs director of Lazada, Southeast Asia's flagship e-commerce platform.

China and ASEAN countries join hands to promote connectivity in the digital age, strengthen in-depth cooperation in the digitization of industries and digital industrialization and strive to bridge the digital divide, which will help build a new digital economy, said Huang Runzhong, chief supervisor of One Connect, Ping An Insurance (Group) Company of China.