On the morning of May 21, the 5th World Intelligence Conference “International Summit Forum on Digital Economy and New Development Pattern” was held in Tianjin, bringing together high-level experts, scholars and entrepreneurs from home and abroad to conduct in-depth discussions on the major theoretical and practical issues in the digital economy and the new development pattern of Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, so as to contribute to the development of digital economy in China.

Rao Zihe, academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Chairman of the Tianjin Association for Science and Technology, presided over the opening ceremony of the forum.

Xu Yanhao, Deputy Secretary of the CPC Leadership Group, Vice Chairman and Secretary of the Secretariat of the China Association for Science and Technology, delivered a speech to the conference via video. He said that a new round of scientific, technological and industrial revolution is booming, and digitalization, networking and intelligence are becoming the new engines of global economic growth. At the same time, the development of digital economy is also facing challenges. The China Association for Science and Technology is building an ecological circle of Innovative China (‘Kechuan Zhongguo’), hoping to deepen cooperation with other countries and all walks of life to jointly promote the development of digital economy and create a better future.

Shang Binyi, Vice Chairman of Tianjin Municipal Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), in his speech said that the theme of the forum focused on digital economy development and economic globalization, global governance system, carbon neutrality, people-centered intelligent society, new rules of digital trade, and the coordinated development of digital economy in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region. He said that Tianjin has a good foundation, resources and advantages in promoting the development of digital economy, and has also made very positive progresses. “We hope to work with experts to make contributions to the development of digital economy and the construction of a new development pattern”, he said.

Chen Jun, academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Vice President of Nankai University, in his speech said that at present, the university is promoting the implementation of the ‘‘4211 Plan for Excellent Nankai’’ and is accelerating the pace of “Double First Class” construction in an all-round way. The China Association for Science and Technology and Tianjin Municipal People’s Government strongly support Nankai University’s research in the field of digital economy. With the joint efforts of the three parties, they set up the Center for Digital Economy, promoting the establishment of a Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Digital Economy Alliance, and the deep integration of ‘‘government, enterprises, university, research institutes, finance, service and application’’. Nankai University will take this opportunity to contribute with Nankai wisdom and strength to the coordinated development of digital economy in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region.

After the opening ceremony, the International Summit Forum on Digital Economy and New Development Pattern was held, with Gong Ke, President of the World Federation of Engineering Organizations, presiding over. He is also former President of Nankai University, Executive Dean of the Chinese Institute of New Generation Artificial Intelligence Development Strategies (CINGAI), and Director of the Center for Digital Economy jointly set up by China Association for Science and Technology, Tianjin Municipal People’s Government and Nankai University. In the afternoon of the same day, Professor Liu Gang presided over the Regional Digital Economy Development Forum (Digital Economy Youth Forum). He is Chief Economist of the Chinese Institute of New Generation Artificial Intelligence Development Strategies (CINGAI), Director of the Nankai University Economic Research Institute and Director of the Center for Digital Economy jointly set up by the China Association for Science and Technology, Tianjin Municipal People’s Government and Nankai University.

At the conference, Liu Gang released the Research Report on China Digital Economy Development (2021), focusing on the development of China’s digital economy under the new development pattern.

(Reported by Kun Fu, photographed by Qiqi Zong, translated by Xia Peng, edited by Davide Francolino and JianjingYun)