The International Symposium on Human Rights Protection in the Digital Era was held in Kuala Lumpur on Friday, bringing together scholars, social organizations and media from both China and Malaysia.
Discussions covered the opportunities and challenges posed by digital transformation to human rights, emerging issues arising from growing digitalization, the core principles for safeguarding rights online, the evolution of digital rights as a new category of human rights, governance and institutional frameworks for their protection, and the role of Asian values and civilizational dialogue in shaping the future of digital human rights.
Among the experts was Fu Zitang, vice president of the China Society for Human Rights Studies and professor of Law at Southwest University of Political Science and Law, who noted that the world is undergoing a profound transformation driven by emerging technologies, which not only represent the core of new productive forces but also significantly expand the scope for safeguarding human rights.
He noted that China emphasizes making people's aspirations for a better life the ultimate goal of scientific and technological innovation, and prioritizing efforts that benefit, serve, and prosper the people and improve their livelihoods.
While embracing technological progress, Fu said, it is essential to integrate the principle that "the people's well-being is the greatest human right" into the governance of digital technologies, uphold the principles of being people-centered, secure and controllable, transparent and trustworthy, and having a sound legal framework in data governance.
These principles, he added, collectively establish the foundational values, bottom-line requirements, core procedures and institutional support system for human rights protection in the digital age.
Rich Too, chief executive of the Social-Economy, Environment, Development and Strategy Studies (SEEDS Malaysia), said that human rights protection in the digital era is a significant topic amid global uncertainty in how they will impact the public, especially in ways that are yet to be fully understood.
"In Malaysia's multicultural context, digital development has created opportunities for exploring human rights issues, while also introducing new challenges," he said.
Given differences in historical backgrounds, political and economic systems and socio-cultural contexts, Too stressed that Malaysia and East Asian countries should have the autonomy to choose development paths suited to their national conditions. "Mutual respect, inclusiveness and learning from each other, together with enhanced exchanges and cooperation, will contribute to the region's overall human rights development," he said.
The symposium was co-organized by the China Society for Human Rights Studies, SEEDS Malaysia, and the Wanita Malaysian Chinese Association.
Int'l symposium on human rights protection in digital era held in Malaysia
Officials and business leaders from both China and the United States gathered in Berkeley, California on Friday to discuss the future of trade and investment between China and the San Francisco Bay Area, with many hoping to overcome the recent strain brought by the Trump administration's tariffs.
The China Council for the Promotion of International Trade hosted a business breakfast exchange meeting on Friday morning, with the council's chairman Ren Hongbin sending out a clear message of the vast economic potential which is there to be tapped into.
"The Chinese economy is very much innovation driven. And the strategic emerging industries, such as new energy, new materials, low carbon, aerospace, bio-pharmacy and the low-altitude economy, will generate a trillion-yuan level or even larger markets. So, I think that will provide enormous opportunities and room for China and U.S. companies to cooperate," said Ren.
He further stressed the China International Supply Chain Expo in Beijing as an example of an event where San Francisco Bay Area companies like NVIDIA and Apple were active participants and direct beneficiaries.
Meanwhile, Chinese Consul General in San Francisco Zhang Jianmin said that against the backdrop of a global economic slowdown, greater cooperation in the innovation sector is now more important than ever.
"The [San Francisco] Bay Area is home to many of the world's top tech companies and offers a sound innovation ecosystem. China has a super big market, rich application scenarios and a complete industrial supporting system. There exists tremendous potential for both sides to have more mutually beneficial cooperation by tapping into their complementary strengths," said Zhang.
Attendees did voice concerns over how the Trump administration's tariffs are impacting business.
With China accounting for nearly 30 percent of the Port of Oakland's total trade volume, the port's executive director Kristi McKenney stressed the need for greater stability and certainty.
"The tariffs in many cases were never actually implemented or were changed before they were implemented. So those linkages are a bit more challenging. I think the bigger issue will be certainty in the economy. And if there's lack of certainty, if we see economic difficulty, then you're going to see job losses," said McKenney.
Oakland's Mayor Barbara Lee said that it is very much business as usual, despite the recent difficulties.
"While we understand the challenges of tariffs, the exports and imports are still continuing, and our port is still a large containerized port doing business with China. And we're going to strengthen that relationship. We may have our differences on issues, on policies, but we here in Oakland understand that we're a global city and we believe the trade brings friendships, brings understanding, and also brings economic benefits to both countries," she said.
Chinese, US officials, business leaders meet in California to deepen mutual understanding
