On 9 November 2020, with the theme of "Co-building Digital Economy and Sharing New Drivers of Development", the 2020 ASEAN-China Digital Economy Cooperation Conference was successfully held in Chengdu, Sichuan Province. The conference was co-hosted by ASEAN-China Centre (ACC) and the Chengdu Municipal People's Government. Mr. Wang Fengchao, Mayor of the Chengdu Municipal People's Government, Mr. Chen Dehai, Secretary-General of ACC, Mr. Djauhari Oratmangun, Ambassador of Indonesia to China, together with representatives from relevant departments of the Ministry of Commerce and the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology of China attended and addressed the conference. Dr. Le Quang Lanh, Head of Information and Communications Technology and Tourism Division of ASEAN Secretariat participated in the conference via video link and made remarks. About 300 participants from the Chengdu Municipal People's Government, diplomatic missions of ASEAN Member States (AMS) in China, ASEAN and Chinese business associations, enterprises and media attended the off-line event. The online conference was launched simultaneously. Business associations and enterprises of AMS  and other provinces and cities in China responded actively, with about 300 registered participants.

Mr. Wang Chaofeng stated that facing the opportunities brought by the digital economy era, Chengdu will earnestly implement the innovation-driven development strategy, promote the deep integration of digital technology and various sectors, and continuously expand exchanges and cooperation with AMS in various areas, especially in the digital economy related areas.

Mr. Chen Dehai said that 2020 marks the ASEAN-China Year of Digital Economy Cooperation, the promotion of which will not only help countries in the region revitalize economic and social development, increase employment and improve people's livelihood, but also give new impetus to the high-quality development of BRI cooperation, and lay a solid foundation for ASEAN-China community with a shared future.

Ambassador Djauhari Oratmangun said that digital integration is essential to enhance ASEAN's global influence and help ASEAN narrow the digital gap and create a more inclusive society. China's digital technology is leading the world while ASEAN's digital market is developing rapidly. Both sides have great potential for cooperation and will jointly promote development in the future.

Dr. Le Quang Lanh opined that compared to the traditional economy, the digital economy is more flexible. The proportion of ASEAN digital economy in GDP in 2025 is estimated to reach 8.5%. ASEAN and China have a broad space for cooperation in this field. The ASEAN Secretariat is ready to contribute to strengthening ASEAN-China digital economy cooperation.

At the conference, representatives from Chengdu Municipal Bureau of Economic and Information Technology and Chengdu Hi-tech Industrial Development Zone briefed on the development of digital economy in Chengdu. Officials of AMS diplomatic missions in China including Mr. Phoutsawanh Khounchantha, Commercial Counsellor of the Embassy of Lao PDR, Ms. Shwe Sin Oo, Commercial Counsellor of the Embassy of Myanmar, Mr. Glenn G. Penaranda, Commercial Counsellor of the Embassy of the Philippines, Mr. Dao Viet Anh, Commercial Counsellor of the Embassy of Viet Nam and Mr. Chang Ken-Wei, First Secretary of the Embassy of Singapore and Center Director of Infocomm Media Development Authority (China) and Mrs. Donlaporn Ajavavarakula, Representative of Thai BOI in China and Director (Investment Promotion Section) of the Royal Thai Consulate General in Shanghai, made promotions on preferential policies and investment prospects of digital economy industry of their respective countries. They also expressed the aspiration of promoting all-round innovation and cooperation led by digital economy cooperation and upgrading the ASEAN-China economic and trade cooperation.

Senior managers of the Chinese leading enterprises in digital economy including iFLYTEK, JD.com, CETC International, and 86Links made keynote speeches on AI industry application and international cooperation, big data-driven smart cities, digital sharing platform for ASEAN industrial parks, overseas digital supply chain etc. and shared their experience in developing business in the ASEAN market.

 

In 2020, amid the COVID-19 pandemic which has dealt a heavy blow to the global economy, digital economy is more important than ever in restoring the economic and social development, creating more jobs and improving people’s livelihood. Building on the momentum of the ASEAN-China Year of Digital Economy Cooperation, and noting the current situation and prospect of ASEAN-China digital economy cooperation, the conference seeks to publicize policies, share opinions, and exchange experiences to explore new growth points in the fields of industrial cooperation such as smart cities, AI and big data.