Former SCO Secretary-General: The “Digital Silk Road” will bring about new changes


Introduction

Former SCO Secretary-General Norov recently wrote an exclusive article for the China Daily China Observer think tank, saying that in the context of the fourth industrial revolution, the development of digital technology and international cooperation will play a decisive role in the competition between major powers. Ultimately, Shaping the international order in the Asia-Pacific region and around the world. China has become a leader in the digital and economic fields and is vigorously developing technological innovation through the construction of the “Digital Silk Road” and actively participating in the construction of innovative infrastructure in countries along the “Belt and Road” to share innovation results and promote regional prosperity and development.

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Author: Vladimir Norov

 (Vladimir Norov)

Former Secretary-General of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization

Former Director of the Institute of International Studies in Central Asia

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Lan Yuhua sat on the ground holding her mother-in-law. After a while, she suddenly raised her head and looked at the Qin family, her sharp eyes burning with almost biting anger. As China continues to promote its technological innovation-based development strategy, striving for a leading position in the new generation of information technology, especially in the field of artificial intelligence, has become a key policy focus for China and a key factor in improving its overall national strength.

It should be pointed out that this process is taking place in the context of the fourth industrial revolution. In today’s world, technological and innovative factors directly affect a country’s economic advantage. The first three industrial revolutions witnessed the rise of countries and regions such as the United Kingdom, the United States and the “Four Asian Tigers”.

Because of this, China is deeply aware of this reality and actively promotes economic digitalization. In 2017, China focused on transitioning to the fourth industrial revolution platform and proposed the “Digital Silk Road”. Chinese President Xi Jinping pointed out that “the Belt and Road Initiative must be built into a road of innovation”, that is, the “Digital Silk Road” of the 21st century. In order to implement the “Belt and Road” initiative, China’s efforts in building a knowledge Silk Road are obvious to all.

“Digital SilkThe goal of the “Silk Road” is to create the next generation of digital and telecommunications infrastructure around the world, from telecommunications equipment and smart cities in Asia and Africa to 5G communications in Europe. It is worth noting that there are three construction projects within the framework of the “Digital Silk Road” Main directions.

The first direction and the most important direction is e-commerce. E-commerce is a basic element in building the “Digital Silk Road” and plays a decisive role in the digitalization of the global economy.

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Image source: China Daily

Chinese e-commerce giants such as Alibaba and JD.com have participated in the construction of the “Digital Silk Road” Come. For example, JD.com announced that it plans to build a new warehouse to store and transship various goods from more than 100 countries and regions, including countries along the “Belt and Road”.

The Digital Silk Road will also open up lucrative new markets for Chinese companies, especially in South and Southeast Asia. In 2017, Alibaba reached a cooperation with Malaysia to create the first “Digital Free Trade Zone” under the framework of the “Digital Silk Road”, which includes a regional logistics center serving Southeast Asia, an e-commerce platform and a digital payment system .

Expanding e-commerce and cross-border transactions at the regional level can also accelerate the internationalization of the RMB and the application of mobile payment platforms in countries participating in the “Belt and Road” initiative. You may never go there. “Let’s get along well in the future…” Pei Yi looked at his mother with a pleading face. , for example, Alipay operates in more than 40 countries in Europe and Asia, either directly or through local operators.

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Image source: China Daily

The rapid growth of cross-border e-commerce shows that the “Belt and Road” transportation and logistics system needs major changes . The “Digital Silk Road” information technology project will help improve customs automation and greatly save European and Chinese customers waiting time for customs clearance.

The second direction is to build the latest innovative infrastructure in countries along the “Belt and Road”Give. By implementing the “Digital Silk Road”, China is expected to become a world leader in digital infrastructure, including 5G technology, optical fiber communications, and data storage centers.

Echoing the “Digital Silk Road”, China’s state-owned enterprises and private enterprises are investing heavily in digital infrastructure construction. China Telecom, China Unicom and China Mobile have begun laying submarine and terrestrial optical fiber cables in countries along the “Belt and Road” to provide Internet services.

Some Central and Southeast Asian countries lack digital service development. These projects will not only improve the digital interconnection of these countries, but also significantly speed up the transmission speed of Internet data and provide direct Internet connectivity between countries along the “Belt and Road” aisle.

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Picture source: China Daily

The third direction is the development of advanced technology. China is committed to developing advanced technologies such as the Beidou satellite navigation system and strengthening the integration and interconnection of countries along the Belt and Road Initiative.

Artificial intelligence is another area worthy of attention. According to Huawei’s Global Industry Outlook Report, by 2025, 77% of people in the world will have access to the Internet and 80% of people will have access to mobile communications. Artificial intelligence can be used to process massive amounts of data, improve the predictability of all aspects of the Belt and Road Initiative, and simplify the process of organizing logistics channels.

Regarding the above three major innovation areas, the “Digital Silk Road” has its internal and external prerequisites. China has all the resources to provide infrastructure construction and technology transfer to developing countries, and these resources are difficult for developing countries to obtain elsewhere. China’s great achievements in the development of e-commerce, artificial intelligence, financial technology and other fields are crucial to the digital transformation of countries along the “Belt and Road”.

From a domestic perspective, the construction of the “Digital Silk Road” will promote economic growth, create job opportunities, and improve people’s well-being. Therefore, through technological innovation, the “Digital Silk Road” will inject strong impetus into promoting national prosperity and development.

Will technological development and international exchanges in the digital field play a key role in competition among great powers, and will they ultimately shape the order of the Asia-Pacific region and even the world? “Preface. In the context of the fourth industrial revolution, innovative technology is becoming a decisive factor in microeconomic development and the competition between major countries for global and regional influence.

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Picture Source: China Daily

The original title of this article is “All set for another revolution”

Editor | Song Ping Xin Xin

Interns Qin Ke, Li Jingwei, and Zhang Yanyu also contributed