Officials promote China-led cyber governance to Belt and Road members during the Digital Silk Road forum in Xian

Officials touted China’s progress in strengthening digital development initiatives for BRI members and called for closer technological partnerships

In a jab at the US, the CPPCC’s vice-chairman said China seeks to work with other nations to ‘advance technological sharing and oppose technological blockades’

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Beijing officials promoted a China-led cyber governance at the Digital Silk Road forum in Xian on Tuesday. Photo: Shutterstock

Ben Jiangin Xi'an, China

Published: 5:30pm, 16 Apr 2024

Chinese government officials on Tuesday trumpeted the country’s progress in shaping digital development models for Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) member states, taking aim at US policies amid an intensifying rivalry with the West.

In keynote addresses to the Digital Silk Road (DSR) Development Forum held in Xian, capital of western Shaanxi province, officials said that, through concerted efforts, China has strengthened and accelerated a series of digital development initiatives across BRI nations.

China has signed a raft of strategic deals with the member states to work together on areas from e-commerce to digital infrastructure, according to Wang Yong, vice-chairman of the 14th Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) national committee. “[China will] join hands to cooperate [with BRI nations] to develop an open and inclusive digital economy,” he told the forum.

China will share its developmental dividends of the digital economy with BRI members, Wang added. It will promote mutual connectivity and strengthen the digital supply chain while maintaining an open, fair, non-discriminatory digital business environment, he said.

The official also called for closer technological partnerships in a range of areas, including artificial intelligence (AI), cloud computing, big data, blockchain and quantum computing.

“As a responsible big nation, China is willing to work together with other countries to further advance our technological sharing and oppose technological blockades and development decoupling … to have digital and smart life benefit more nations and more people,” Wang said.

Wang made his appeal in the face of restrictions from Washington, which has been looking to curb China’s technological advance. The US has escalated sanctions in recent years and forged alliances to enforce export restrictions on the export of critical technologies, particularly advanced semiconductors, to China.

The forum was co-hosted by the World Internet Conference (WIC) – a Beijing-based agency that promotes China’s vision for cyberspace – and the Shaanxi provincial government. China launched the DSR initiative in 2015 to incorporate digital elements to its BRI plan, with the aim of boosting digital connectivity.