The Third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation convened on October 18 saw the release ofBeijing Initiative on the Belt and Road International Digital Economy Cooperation.Jointly issued by China and 13 other countries including Myanmar,Cambodia,Laos,Thailand,and Malaysia,the Initiative features 20 points of consensus to further deepen international cooperation on the digital economy in terms of infrastructure,industrial transformation,digital capacity,and cooperation mechanisms.
China and Southeast Asian countries have a good foundation for cooperation in the digital economy thanks to complementary advantages and great potential.Deepening cooperation in the field will help the two sides build a comprehensive strategic partnership that fosters peace,security,prosperity,and sustainable development.
The Features section of this issue focuses on how the digital economy is defined,how China and ASEAN countries have cooperated in this field,and ways to overcome the challenges posed by the“digital divide.” A review of cases in China’s logistics industry and the Philippines’ cloud computing sector will shed light on the significance of digital technology in transforming the traditional industrial landscape as well as on the opportunities and challenges that accompany the digital economy.