Conference & Forum
Digital Economy Joint CAREC-PRC and Second ASEAN-PRC Digital Economy Workshop: Empowering Digital Future
20 May 2024 - 1 Jun 2024 Hangzhou, People's Republic of China
The global economy is rapidly changing, driven by emerging technologies that promote resource efficiency, inclusivity, and environmental sustainability. Digital technologies play a crucial role in this transformation, offering solutions to challenges like poverty, healthcare, job creation, and environmental protection. The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the adoption of digital tools, demonstrating their potential to connect people and businesses even in crises.
The CAREC region, however, faces significant challenges in harnessing the benefits of the digital economy due to inadequate digital infrastructure and unclear regulations. To address these issues, the CAREC Secretariat, supported by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and partnering with the CAREC Institute and UNESCAP, developed the CAREC Digital Strategy 2030. This strategy serves as a roadmap for accelerating digital transformation and unlocking the region’s potential.
The CAREC Institute, with support from ADB and other organizations, has conducted research and engaged policymakers in dialogues on digitalization. Recognizing the importance of digital economy, the People’s Republic of China has made significant strides, with its digital economy value reaching 6.5 trillion US dollars by 2021.
To further promote digital economy in the CAREC region, the CAREC Institute will collaborate with ADB, the CAREC Secretariat, and Chinese government entities to launch a capacity building program aimed at enhancing digital economy cooperation and promoting digital connectivity. This initiative aligns with the CAREC Digital Strategy’s vision and mission, seeking to equip member countries with the necessary tools and knowledge to realize the full potential of the digital economy for inclusive economic growth, social well-being, and enhanced regional competitiveness.
Agenda
| Morning | Opening Ceremony
Moderator: Gong Sen, Director, Center for International Studies on Development and Governance (CiSDG), Zhejiang University |
| CAREC Digital Strategy 2030 (Online) Dorothea Lazaro, Senior Regional Cooperation Specialist, ADB Central and West Asia Department CAREC Digital Economy Development: challenges and policy recommendations Rovshan Mahmudov, Senior Capacity Building Specialist, CAREC Institute |
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| Afternoon | Practice and Pathway in China’s Development of Digital Economy Yuezhou Cai, Director and Researcher of the Digital Economy Research Office, Institute of Quantitative & Technical Economics at Chinese Academy of Social Sciences |
| Night | Ice-breaking:
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| Morning | On-site: Zhejiang’s Information and Communication Infrastructure Construction China Mobile (Zhejiang) Innovation Research Institute China’s Information and Communication Infrastructure Construction: History and Experience Jun Lei, Senior Project Expert and Senior Engineer of the Smart Home Operations Centre and Integrated Communication Systems Department of China Mobile Ltd |
| Afternoon | The Application of Metaverse Technology in the Digital Economy Era Xuguang Zhang, President of the Zhejiang Association for Science, Technology and Innovation, Distinguished Researcher of the Intelligent Education Research Centre at Zhejiang University |
| Night | The New Generation of Artificial Intelligence: from AlphaGo to ChatGPT Fei Wu, Director and Qiu Shi Distinguished Professor of Institute of Artificial Intelligence at Zhejiang University |
| Morning | On-site: Evolution towards Intelligent Education Transformation Xianghu Future School and Hailiang Limited Co., Ltd. |
| Afternoon | On-site: Metaverse Technology, Digital Collectibles and Global Distribution of Digital Content Zhejiang Zoland Animation Co., Ltd. |
| Night | Practices, Experiences and Challenges in the Development of Digital Economy in Asian, CAREC and ASEAN Economies Yoonee Jeong, Senior Digital Tech Specialist (Digital Infra & Economy), Climate Change and Sustainable Development Department (CCSD), ADB |
| Morning | On-site: Cloud Computing: Current Landscape and Future Directions – From Emulation to Innovation Alibaba Cloud Computing Co., Ltd. – Hangzhou Branch |
| Afternoon | Intelligent Transformation of Manufacturing Industry Wenge Liu, Dean and Professor of the School of International Economics and Politics at Liaoning University |
| Morning | On-site: 3D+AI Tools for Propelling the Global Fashion Industry’s Digital and Innovative Evolution Zhejiang Linctex Digital Technology Ltd.（Style3D） |
| Afternoon | Exemplary Cases of Intelligent System Design Yongchuan Tang, Deputy Director of China Digital Creative Technology Equipment Innovation Industrial Alliance, Professor of the School of Computer Science and Technology at Zhejiang University |
| Night | Networking: Global Digital Economic Cooperation, Digital Economic Development Opportunities and Digital Technology Solutions (Arranged by the World Digital Economy Forum (WDEF), Hangzhou Digital Ecological Building and representative enterprises in the area of digital technology solutions) |
| Daytime | Digital Economy-focused Industry Tour to Shaoxing: Enterprise Digital Transformation, Rural Livestream E-commerce and Traditional Culture Zhejiang Toman Intelligent Technology Co., Ltd——Lunch——China Pearls and Jewelry International City——The China Shaoxing Wine Museum——Dinner (Arranged by Shaoxing Council of China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT), Shaoxing Chamber of International Commerce and representative enterprises in Shaoxing) |
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| Morning | Digitalization of Government Services for a Better Business Environment in China: A Case Study on the Reform Experience of Zhejiang Province Wenting Wei, Private Sector Specialist, World Bank in China The Construction Process of Digitalization of Government Services in Zhejiang Yongsheng Shen, General Manager of Zhejiang Daily Digital Technology (Zhejiang) Co.,Ltd., General Manager of Hangzhou City Brain Co.,Ltd. |
| Afternoon | On-site: Zhejiang’s Practice in Building a Digital Government: Hangzhou City Brain Zhejiang’s Practice in Intelligent Industrial Transformation: Zhejiang Top Cloud-agri Technology Co., Ltd |
| Morning | Sustainable Social Innovation and Governance of Digital Divide Lijie Fang, Professor of the School of Social Research at the Renmin University of China |
| Afternoon | Constructing Rules for an Opened Global Digital Economy System Xianhai Huang, Changjiang Distinguished Professor and Vice President of Zhejiang University |
| Night | Networking: Integration and Cooperation of Asian Civilisations in the Digital Age (Arranged by Zhejiang University International Business School (ZIBS) and the International Campus of Zhejiang University) |
| Morning | Financial Innovation in the Context of Digitalization – Micro Connect: The Wall Street for SMEs Zhong Wu, Secretary-General of the Finance Center for South-South Cooperation, Senior Advisor of Micro Connect and Chairman of Hong Kong Oriental Patron Financial Group |
| Afternoon | Networking: Global Trade of Cultural Goods and Services in the Digital Era (Arranged by the 20th China International Cartoon & Animation Festival (CICAF), Zhejiang Digital Culture International Cooperation Zone and representative enterprises in the area of international cultural goods and services) |
| Night | On-site: Digital Industry Investment and Live Streaming Economy |
| Morning | On-site: Zhejiang’s Footprint in E-commerce: A Dive into the Corporate Ecosystem and Development Experiences 1688.com and Taobao of Alibaba Group |
| Afternoon | Digital Transformation, Global FinTech Trends & Opportunities for Emerging Markets Shenglin Ben, Dean and Professor of the International Business School, Director of the Fintech Research Institute at Zhejiang University |
| Night | Networking: (Arranged by Zhejiang University International Business School (ZIBS), the International Campus of Zhejiang University and representative enterprises in Jiaxing) |
| Morning | Experiences and Practices in the Development of Digital Economy in CAREC and ASEAN Economies, Insights from the Workshop and Suggestions Group Reports by the Workshop Participants |
| Afternoon | Concluding Session and Commencement of the Workshop Sen Gong, Director and Professor of the Centre for International Studies on Development and Governance at Zhejiang and Zhejiang University (CiSDG) |
| Night | Closing Ceremony
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| Daytime | Digital Economy-focused Industry Tour to Yiwu
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