Macao forum highlights digitalization, innovation in global infrastructure projects

The 15th International Infrastructure Investment and Construction Forum (IIICF) kicked off in Macao Thursday, with industry leaders stressing the importance of digitalization and innovation in building more sustainable and interconnected global infrastructure.

Over 3,500 industry representatives from more than 70 countries and regions attended the event titled "Green Innovative Digital Connectivity."

China's Vice Minister of Commerce, Guo Tingting, pledged her ministry's commitment to green infrastructure development through policy dialogues and practical cooperation in areas such as green energy, transportation, and finance.

Meanwhile, the exhibition area of this year's forum has been expanded by 60 percent compared to the previous editions, showcasing projects of global infrastructure connectivity.

Praising the forum's collaborative approach, Uzbekistan's Minister of Ecology, Environmental Protection and Climate Change, Aziz Abdukhakimov, emphasized the value of uniting policymakers, companies, and government representatives to explore new avenues for economic development.

Wang Bin, president of China's Power Construction Corporation, underscored the growing importance of green innovation and digitalization within the infrastructure industry.

Fang Qiuchen, chairman of the China International Contractors Association, noted the forum's broader impact, extending to China's Belt and Road Initiative.

"The most important and prioritized area of the Belt and Road Initiative is infrastructure connectivity. The annual IIICF in Macao also focuses on international infrastructure cooperation. Now we are building it into an important international cooperation platform serving the Belt and Road Initiative, especially infrastructure connectivity. I believe that the Belt and Road Initiative will achieve solid progress in the future," he said.

The forum, co-organized by the China International Contractors Association and the Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute, will conclude on Friday.

Macao forum highlights digitalization, innovation in global infrastructure projects

China's top legislator Zhao Leji has stressed the importance of maintaining confidence and composure, and leveraging strength and institutional advantages to fulfill goals set in the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025) and lay a solid foundation for the next five years.

Zhao, chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, made the remarks during his research and investigation tour to the provinces of Jiangsu and Anhui in east China from Monday to Thursday.

Zhao, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, stressed that the people's congresses should contribute to the country's high-quality development and social stability.

He underscored the need to uphold the Party's leadership and unswervingly follow the path of socialist rule of law with Chinese characteristics.

Legislative work should be strengthened and improved to ensure that legal norms are timely updated, comprehensive, orderly interconnected and standardized, so as to support and safeguard reform and development, he said.

Zhao stressed the importance of local legislation's practical, supplementary, and exploratory roles, and called for correct, effective, and law-based supervision to ensure the proper implementation of the Constitution and laws.

Efforts should also be made to raise public awareness and expand orderly public participation to realize whole-process people's democracy, he added.

China's top legislator calls for maintaining confidence, leveraging strength

China's top legislator calls for maintaining confidence, leveraging strength