Top government officials, international experts and scholars gathered in Shanghai on Friday and Saturday for the ninth International Academic Forum on the Belt and Road Initiative and Global Governance, calling for stronger green and digital cooperation.
The two-day forum, co-hosted by Fudan University and the Silk Road Think Tank Association, focused on the challenges and progress of China's flagship development initiative.
Discussions covered a wide range of topics, including green development, the digital economy, artificial intelligence and global governance. The program also featured an entrepreneurs' session and roundtable discussions on Global South cooperation and international law.
Erik Solheim, former executive director of the U.N. Environment Programme and former U.N. undersecretary-general, called for greater efforts to support developing economies in both green and digital transitions.
"We need more green investment in railroads, and in solar and wind and hydropower. We need more of the same, and we also need a shift -- and that's the shift to the digital economy. Most developing nations are very poor in artificial intelligence. China can help them build their digital infrastructure, but also the software for this, the understanding, the competence of the digital economy. China is now totally dominant in green economics; 60 percent of everything green is happening in China. Then you also need to see their digital economy, and they want to see what President Xi calls 'small and beautiful' projects, like cultural heritage, health, education, sports -- all these," he said.
Liu Zhiqin, a senior fellow at the Chongyang Institute for Financial Studies at Renmin University of China, emphasized the need to maintain momentum and trust among Belt and Road partners.
"Over the next decade, it will be crucial to deepen mutual trust and keep the Belt and Road Initiative 'fresh' and appealing, as it is significant to keep the BRI appealing, dynamic, and full of expectations. Second, we must ensure that the BRI genuinely delivers tangible benefits to member countries and their people," he said.
Int’l experts at Shanghai forum urge stronger green, digital cooperation
