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Express Tribune
04-07-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
Call to deepen digital city partnership under CPEC
Listen to article "The theme of our conference, build a digitally friendly city, highlights the harmonious coexistence between people and technology in the city, which is what we often call people-oriented in the digital age. We also highly agree with this in Pakistan's national development strategy," said Aslam Chaudhary, Economic Minister at Pakistan Embassy's Economic Wing. In his speech at the ongoing Global Digital Economy Conference in Beijing on July 2, the minister pointed out that building digitally friendly cities is not just about technology, but also about creating an environment where all citizens, whether urban or rural, could use safe and reliable digital technologies. Given this, Pakistan is fulfilling its national commitment to continuously expand the scope of digital economy services and try to cover every remotest area. Nowadays, the Pakistani government has established an inclusive service fund to strengthen the information and communication technology (ICT) infrastructure and under the framework of the Six One One Foundation, the fund is playing its role. "Through this, we have laid optical cables in large areas of the country, connecting about 22,000 villages," Chaudhary said. "By building digital-friendly cities, different cities are able to recognise each other's data standards. At the same time, cooperation agreements between countries are an indispensable boost to the digitalisation of developing countries." In April, the Secretary-General of the Riyadh-based Digital Cooperation Organisation (DCO), Deemah AlYahya, noted that Pakistan's forthcoming presidency of the multilateral body is part of ongoing efforts to position the country as a regional and global digital leader. Pakistan is scheduled to assume the DCO presidency in 2026, following Kuwait's term in 2025. "The 2026 presidency will see Pakistan hosting the Digital Future Development Initiative (DFDI) forum in Islamabad, marking a significant step in the country's digital transformation journey." "On this occasion, I am going to have three major initiatives," the minister stressed. "First, strengthen cross-border data flows and interoperability. We are establishing a cross-border data flow norm under the South-South cooperation framework. Second, inclusive digital technology development is essential, including in the fields of agriculture, medical and healthcare. Third, we need to conduct joint training of digital talents. Through the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) framework, the two countries have signed a talent training agreement. There is high urgency for digital talent training in Pakistan." Chaudhary listed cloud computing, flood warning, climate change, smart cities and other areas where China and Pakistan can achieve in-depth cooperation and suggested establishing a Digital Friendly City Innovation Centre with branches in Beijing, Islamabad and Karachi so that different branches can carry out a series of joint pilot projects. "We're seeing that Beijing is accelerating the construction of a global digital economy benchmark city and exploring the construction of a Digital Silk Road pilot zone. Pakistan is willing to work with China and all other partners around the globe to turn vision into tangible digital reality," he added.
Associated Press
17-03-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Setting Sail for Europe! Delegation from the Beijing Innovation Service Hub for Digital Economy Enterprise Going Global Elevates China-Europe Digital Collaboration
BARCELONA, Spain, March 17, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Recently, at the invitation of the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Economy and Information Technology and the Organizing Committee of the Global Digital Economy Conference, the Beijing Innovation Service Hub for Digital Economy Enterprise Going Global (hereinafter referred to as the 'the Hub') partnered with leading enterprises in Beijing's digital economy sector, including iSoftStone, to visit Europe. They conducted a series of engagements with government agencies, academic institutions, business associations, and enterprises in Barcelona and Rome. Leveraging the digital economy as a bridge, this initiative aims to further advance China-Europe digital-friendly exchanges and foster substantive cooperation in the field. During the visit, the delegation actively engaged in the 2025 MWC Barcelona (Mobile World Congress), conducting targeted one-on-one meetings with international telecom operators including Orange (France), Telefónica (Spain), Vietnam Telecom, Telecom26 (Switzerland), Vodafone (UK), e& (UAE), and SK Telecom (South Korea) to promote Beijing's expanded openness policies for value-added telecommunications services. The delegation also held in-depth dialogues with leading Chinese enterprises such as AsiaInfo, SuperMap, Huawei, ZTE, Xiaomi, Lenovo, China Unicom Global (Europe), and China Telecom Global to gain insights into their overseas expansion strategies and diverse demands. Additionally, the Hub shared its latest achievements with its ecosystem partner, the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC), and reached a consensus to mutually invite digital economy enterprises to participate in the 2025 Global Digital Economy Conference and the 2025 Smart City Expo. Furthermore, the Hub delivered comprehensive presentations to over 10 companies, including Xinlun New Materials, Nexus Telecom, AXELERA, U Mobile, Digital Nasional, Hengtong Group, BoardNet, EDOTCO, PMW, WeaverLabs, and Swisstech, inviting them to explore opportunities to join the Hub and inject new vitality into its ecosystem. The delegation also invited all participants to attend the 2025 Global Digital Economy Conference, aiming to showcase cutting-edge innovations and jointly build bridges for international exchanges and collaboration. MWC Barcelona, organized by the GSMA—one of the world's three major global mobile communications organizations—is a premier authority in the telecommunications industry. This year's event, themed 'Coverage, Connect, Create', brought together over 2,400 enterprises from more than 200 countries and regions. Centered on six key topics—5G Inside, Connect X, AI+, Enterprise Re-invented, Game Changers, and Our Digital DNA, the event spotlighted cutting-edge technologies such as 5G-Advanced, generative AI, and 6G, underscoring the global telecommunications sector's profound focus on future trends and its proactive exploration of transformative innovations. On March 4, 2025, the European Chapter of the Global Digital Economy Conference (GDEC) was successfully held in Barcelona, Spain. As a flagship project in Beijing's efforts to build itself into a global digital economy benchmark city, the Hub made a notable appearance at the event. Zhang Genxue, General Manager of the Hub, delivered a keynote presentation, highlighting that since its establishment on July 3, 2024, the Hub has actively connected overseas enterprises, ecosystem service providers, international clients, and governments, while pioneering a '1+4+N' ecosystem. This initiative aims to build a multi-tiered global resource network platform, accelerating its role as the 'first stop' for foreign enterprises investing in Beijing and the 'launchpad' for Chinese companies expanding overseas. During the conference, the Hub signed strategic partnership agreements with the ChinaEU, the Catalonia Beijing Association, and the Catalonia Business Leaders Association. All parties reached a consensus to deepen collaboration in supporting Chinese and Spanish enterprises in overseas market expansion, technology exchange, and operational localization. At the concurrent 'Beijing Night' event, the Hub engaged with over 20 government agencies and corporate representatives, including the Catalonia Investment Bureau, NXP Semiconductors, Denodo, Livoltek, AGRUPA ENERGIA, and Avanzate, fostering dynamic and in-depth discussions in a lively and engaging atmosphere. Zhao Houlin, former Secretary-General of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), emphasized the significance of the overseas chapter in advancing international digital economy cooperation. Sihan, President of GSMA Greater China, expressed strong support for the Global Digital Economy Conference, reaffirming MWC's commitment to strengthening collaboration with Beijing. The delegation conducted an on-site visit to the Consulate General of the People's Republic of China in Barcelona, engaging in an exchange with Consul General Meng Yuhong. The two sides held discussions on Beijing's digital economy benchmark city development, the Hub's overseas cooperation network agreements, and the expanded openness policies for value-added telecommunications services. The Hub provided a detailed overview of its strategic background, functional positioning, and international network development. The delegation also conducted an on-site visit to the Government of Rome , engaging in extensive discussions with government officials including Fabio Sokolowicz, Foreign Affairs Advisor to the Mayor of Rome and Director of the International Relations Office of the Rome City Government, and Enrico Colaiacovo, Director of the Digital Transformation Office of Rome. The delegation welcomed the Government of Rome to bring digital innovation enterprises to participate in the 2025 Global Digital Economy Conference and join Beijing's Global Digital Economy Partner Cities initiative. They also proposed concrete project collaborations in areas such as 5G, smart cities, and digital cultural tourism through the Hub. The delegation conducted an on-site visit to Casa Asia in Barcelona as well, and met with the Official Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Services, and Navigation of Barcelona (Cambra), where they signed a strategic cooperation agreement. In collaboration with the Catalonia Beijing Association, they inaugurated the Hub's 'Barcelona Service Station'. Leveraging domestic and international business associations as well as overseas service stations, the Hub will support more Beijing-based digital economy enterprises in expanding their global market presence, actively promote the implementation of high-quality overseas projects, and facilitate the efficient integration and mutual benefit of domestic and international business resources. The delegation visited DIET at Sapienza University of Rome, and held in-depth discussions on key topics such as its leading disciplines, the development of digital laboratories, strengthening collaboration with universities in Beijing, establishing talent exchange programs, and fostering corporate technology partnerships. The delegation also engaged in in-depth dialogues with leading digital economy enterprises and innovative companies. During their visit to Talent Garden, an innovation platform in Italy, they conducted project exchanges with five local Italian digital economy startups: Elaison (AI-powered smart agriculture), Flint (international ICT service operator), Sketchin (a top European design firm), eFM (digital twin and digital platform provider), and Rosso (an innovative platform dedicated to addressing blood emergencies). Additionally, they explored collaboration models with Almaviva, a leading Italian information and communications technology (ICT) giant. This European tour represents a significant step by the Hub to deepen its integration into the international market and enhance its global brand influence. With the successful hosting of the European Chapter of the 2025 Global Digital Economy Conference, a series of efficient and pragmatic meetings and exchanges were conducted, further solidifying the Hub's role as a platform for China-Europe two-way collaboration. By upgrading its international service resource network, the Hub has sounded Beijing's call to Europe and the world, strengthening its brand presence on the global stage. Riding the waves to new horizons, charting a future of shared growth. The Hub will embark on a new journey following this European tour, establishing a long-term China-Europe cooperation mechanism spanning policy, market, and technology. Committed to its strategic mission as the 'first stop for foreign enterprises entering Beijing' and the 'launchpad for Chinese companies expanding globally', the Hub will leverage its multi-stakeholder network—government, industry, associations, and research institutions—to empower Chinese enterprises in their overseas ventures. Together, we will usher in a new chapter for Beijing's digital economy growth, fostering innovation-driven collaboration and mutual prosperity on the global stage.
