Internet summit in Hong Kong highlights digital future

The 2025 World Internet Conference (WIC) Asia-Pacific Summit opened on Monday in China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, attracting nearly 1,000 participants from around the globe to explore future development and potentials across various domains in digital technology.

The two-day summit was held under the theme of "Integration of AI and Digital Technologies Shaping the Future - Jointly Building a Community with a Shared Future in Cyberspace."

Apart from the opening ceremony and the main forum, this summit also holds sub-forums on topics such as large-scale AI models, digital finance, and smart living, to discuss the latest trends in the technology sector, share experiences, deepen cooperation, and shape new dynamics and advantages for development in the Asia-Pacific region.

"The Asia-Pacific Summit held in Hong Kong for the first time will bring very rare opportunities for the future of Hong Kong. For the coordination between Hong Kong and the mainland, especially in technological innovation, the mutual empowerment of talent, and industry integration, it should be said that they reinforce each other and promote integrated development," said Zhang Donggang, Party (Communist Party of China) committee chief, Renmin University of China.

In addition, there were government-enterprise exchange meetings, multiple seminars on AI governance and global sustainable development, and other activities during the summit.

A total of 11 research reports, including "Empowering Global Sustainable Development with Universally Beneficial and Inclusive Artificial Intelligence Governance," were also released during the summit.

Since its inception in 2014, the WIC has been held annually in Wuzhen, in east China's Zhejiang Province. Originally launched as a yearly event, the WIC evolved into an international organization in July 2022. Headquartered in Beijing, it is dedicated to global internet governance and committed to building a high-level dialog platform for the global internet community.

Internet summit in Hong Kong highlights digital future

The price of diesel fuel is surging worldwide after the Strait of Hormuz was blocked, disrupting global shipping and driving up the cost of goods. As of early April, the per-barrel price of diesel in Europe has exceeded 200 U.S. dollars for the first time since 2022.

In Britain and France, fuel prices are now 30 percent higher than they were when the U.S. and Israel launched attacks on Iran on February 28.

The British motoring organization Royal Automobile Club (RAC) finds that the Netherlands has the most expensive diesel in Europe, at more than 2.8 U.S. dollars per liter.

Ireland, Spain, and Romania have temporarily cut the excise duty on diesel.

In Southeast Asia, Cambodia's diesel price has more than doubled since the outbreak of the Middle East conflict, with a liter now priced at 2.03 U.S. dollars.

Meanwhile, Myanmar's Ministry of Finance and Revenue has announced a temporary tax exemption on imports of high-speed diesel in a bid to stabilize and lower commodity prices, the state-owned daily The Global New Light of Myanmar reported on Thursday.

The United States is also facing the consequences of its military actions in Persian Gulf region, with diesel futures rising 11 percent to nearly 112 dollars per barrel in Texas on Thursday, after U.S. President Donald Trump announced continued military actions against Iran.

Countries see record fuel prices amid Strait of Hormuz disruptions