Beijing, China: A new chapter in global digital cooperation is set to unfold later this month as the World Internet Conference (WIC) announced the Digital Silk Road Development Forum, which will be held on July 24 in Quanzhou, Fujian Province. Designed to promote international digital trade and deepen global partnerships, the forum will bring together government officials, international organizations, industry leaders, and scholars to discuss some of the most pressing topics in the digital era.
At a press conference held today in Beijing, the WIC introduced the forum’s key features, progress in its organization, and its thematic highlights. Speaking at the event were Ren Xianliang, Secretary-General of the WIC; Zhang Yan, Member of the Standing Committee of the Fujian Provincial Party Committee and Head of the Publicity Department; and Liu Linshuang, Member of the Standing Committee of the Quanzhou Municipal Party Committee and Head of both the Publicity Department and the United Front Work Department. Liang Hao, Executive Deputy Secretary General of the WIC, chaired the briefing.
Hosted by the WIC and organized by the People’s Government of Fujian Province, the forum is co-organized by the Quanzhou Municipal People’s Government, the Cyberspace Administration of Fujian Province, and the Fujian Provincial Development and Reform Commission. The event’s central theme, “Smart Maritime Silk Road, Embracing the Future Together Jointly Building a Community with a Shared Future in Cyberspace,” will shape a rich agenda focusing on three major areas: digital trade openness and cooperation along the Belt and Road, artificial intelligence empowerment for the high-quality development of the private economy, and the digital and intelligent transformation of international transportation for sustainable development.
Ren Xianliang highlighted the historical depth and cultural resonance of holding the forum in Quanzhou, the ancient starting point of the Maritime Silk Road. He traced the city’s legacy from the flourishing maritime commerce of antiquity to the epic voyages of Zheng He in the Ming Dynasty. “The Maritime Silk Road bears witness to the long-standing cross-sea exchanges and mutually beneficial cooperation among nations,” Ren stated. “It embodies a Silk Road spirit of peace, cooperation, openness, inclusiveness, mutual learning, and shared success that continues to inspire us today.”
Ren added that, amid accelerating global changes, the decision to hold the forum in Quanzhou was both a tribute to historical roots and a message to the world to write a new chapter in the development of the Maritime Silk Road through digital civilization. Moreover, he emphasized the importance of advancing cooperation in areas like cross-border e-commerce, data connectivity, and smart ports, aiming to push forward the construction of a community with a shared future in cyberspace.
Zhang Yan underlined Fujian’s pivotal role in both the ancient and modern Silk Road narratives. As an important starting point of the historical Maritime Silk Road and a core area in the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, Fujian is also a trailblazer in China’s digital transformation. “The Fujian Provincial Party Committee and Government have earnestly implemented the guidance of General Secretary Xi Jinping during his visit to the province,” Zhang said. “We have drawn from Fujian’s role as the ideological and practical source of Digital China and capitalized on the advantages of overlapping policy zones. By focusing on infrastructure, trade cooperation, open platforms, and cultural exchange, we have vigorously advanced the construction of the Digital Silk Road.”
He stressed that the upcoming forum presents an opportunity to engage the world with greater openness, pragmatism, and high-quality platforms. “We look forward to working with friends from around the world to chart new cooperative pathways across the digital blue ocean and jointly push forward initiatives like ‘Fujian Connects the World’ and ‘Fujian’s Voice Reaches the Seas.’”
Liu Linshuang detailed how Quanzhou is actively embracing digital transformation. The city has seized major national initiatives, such as becoming a pilot city for technological transformation in manufacturing and for the digital transformation of small and medium-sized enterprises. “Quanzhou is committed to the high-quality development of its digital economy,” Liu said. “With this forum as a launchpad, we aim to leverage our status as the starting point of the Maritime Silk Road, embrace the momentum of the Digital Maritime Silk Road, and further integrate the digital economy with cultural and tourism sectors to empower the real economy.”
The forum will focus on timely topics such as trade liberalization, facilitation, and intelligent development, along with digital products and services, technology trade, and cross-border e-commerce. It is expected to attract a diverse range of participants, including high-level representatives from international organizations, ministerial-level officials from Belt and Road countries and regions, diplomatic envoys to China, executives from leading internet firms and industry bodies, and renowned scholars. Together, they will engage in multi-dimensional, high-level discussions and in-depth exchanges of ideas.
In addition to the main forum, a series of important side events will be held. These include a WIC exchange session on AI development and governance, where policymakers and senior WIC members will discuss emerging AI policy trends; an advanced training program hosted by the WIC Digital Academy, focused on innovation and development in the digital economy; and a Chinese Traditional Culture Showcase, highlighting how digital technologies can empower cultural preservation and creativity through the fusion of traditional arts and modern innovation.
As anticipation builds, the Digital Silk Road Development Forum stands as a major platform for fostering international cooperation, sharing best practices, and strengthening digital connectivity across continents, echoing the enduring legacy of the ancient Maritime Silk Road while pointing boldly toward a digitally connected future.
