China-ASEAN Information Harbor: An Information Hub for Building Digital Silk Road

Symposium on the 15th anniversary of the establishment of strategic partnership between China and ASEAN was held on March 28 in Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. More than 60 representatives of think tanks from China and ASEAN nations attended the event. Based on the theme of “New Era, New Vision and New Opportunities”, all representatives held comprehensive and effective discussions on the following four topics: experience and enlightenment over the past 15 years since the establishment of strategic partnership; creating a new pattern of economic and trade cooperation; grasping new opportunities of innovation and cooperation; creating a new situation for cultural exchange.

Lu Dongliang, CEO of China-ASEAN Information Harbor Co., Ltd., delivered a keynote speech at the symposium as a representative of China's think tanks. He expressed his wish for joint cooperation with ASEAN nations in building Digital Silk Road and sharing the dividends of digital economy.

Lu Dongliang delivered a keynote speech at the symposium (Photo by Zheng Xiaojun)

During panel discussion on the second topic ‘creating a new pattern of economic and trade cooperation’, Lu Dongliang proposed deepening cooperation between China and ASEAN  in the development of information industry. He believed that China-ASEAN Free Trade Area was facing a great opportunity in digital economy, which has become a new powerhouse in propelling the growth of world economy. He said that the Fourth Industrial Revolution, which has brought transformative technologies such as big data, cloud computing, Internet of Things, blockchain and artificial intelligence, was providing  strong impetus for economic transformation and growth. Digital economy has become a new leverage for global economy. It was predicted that implementation of the strategy of digital economic development would increase the total value of GDP of ASEAN by one trillion US dollars in the next 10 years.

According to Lu, ASEAN is the world’s fastest-growing market of Internet users, which provides great opportunities for the development of digital economy. On the one hand, there is vast potentiality for E-Commerce and internet finance. On the other hand, the development of information and communication has shown great vitality. In addition, smart cities have adequate impetus for their development. With the increasing demand for mass data and massive computing power, new markets for cloud computing, big data and Internet of Things have become an important entry point for ASEAN countries to develop smart cities. Meanwhile, ASEAN nations have great potential for the development of digital economy in intelligent manufacturing, intelligent communications terminal, network culture and other fields.

In his speech Lu Dongliang introduced the progress of China-ASEAN Information Harbor. Since its start in 2016, the construction of China-ASEAN Information Harbor has been aiming for becoming an information hub and an industrial base for information technology. The Port, whose base is in Guangxi, will target ASEAN countries and radiate the Southwest and the South of China. Priorities of the programme include building an information hub, laying a solid foundation for digital economy, strengthening cooperation in the application of cloud computing, building a platform for the Internet industry, and injecting new energy for the industrial transformation and upgrading of the industrial structure.

He also said that according to the General Scheme of ASEAN Information and Communication Technology (2020), there was strong need from China-ASEAN Information Harbor to enhance cooperation with ASEAN nations for building the Digital Silk Road and expanding the market of cloud computing in China and ASEAN as well.

Lu Dongliang accepted an exclusive interview from Guangxi Channel of CRI Online. (Photo by Zheng Xiaojun)

After the keynote speech, Lu Dongliang accepted an exclusive interview from Guangxi channel of CRI Online. He believed that fruitful achievements of the establishment of strategic partnership between China and ASEAN over the past 15 years have substantially promoted the construction of China-ASEAN Information Harbor. Based in Guangxi and targeting ASEAN the Port had two powerful strengths: construction of an information hub and construction of an industrial base for information technology.

He added that the trend of transformation and upgrading of global economy has laid a very solid foundation for the future of China-ASEAN Information Harbor. The rapid growth of bilateral trade between China and ASEAN has created a beneficial macro environment and favorable regional environment for the future development of the Port.

Lu Dongliang stated that the China-ASEAN Information Harbor not only planned to build a China-ASEAN Big Data Center in Nanning, but also planned to select a few places abroad for the construction of big data centers. China is seeking cooperation with Malaysia, Myanmar and Cambodia to set up a cloud computing center within the Information Harbor which will enable integration of big data gathered from China and abroad so as to provide services of cloud computing to ASEAN countries as well as countries along the Belt and Road.

Talking about the blockchain, a global buzzword nowadays, Lu Dongliang believed that there was high possiblity for cooperation between China and ASEAN in this field. He also revealed that blockchain would be deeply involved in the future layout of China-ASEAN Information Harbor. The blockchain technology has already been adopted in the cross-border trade. Next China will explore more cooperations with ASEAN in research, application and training of the new technology.  (Ralph Kuick)