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ASEAN-China Digital Economy Cooperation Conference held in OVC

Updated: 2021-07-19 (chinadaily.com.cn) Weibo Weixin Qzone Facebook Twitter More

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Foreign visitors marvel at China's digital products making use of advanced technologies. [Photo/WeChat account of Optics Valley of China] 

The 2021 ASEAN-China Digital Economy Cooperation Conference was held on July 15-16 in the East Lake High-tech Development Zone (Optics Valley of China, or OVC) in Wuhan, Central China's Hubei province. 

Leaders from ASEAN countries, officials from ASEAN diplomatic missions in China, as well as experts and firm representatives in the field of digital economy were invited to the conference for dialogues and potential cooperation opportunities with China in digital economy.

On July 15, guests from ASEAN members paid a research visit to the Optics Valley Exhibition Center and China Information and Communication Technology Group Co. 

Foreign guests were impressed by the development history of Optics Valley, and the cutting-edge products on display by Yangtze Optical Fibre and Cable Joint Stock Limited Co, Wuhan NingMei Kingdom Technology Co, and Legend Holdings Co. 

Natthira Krasaesarn, minister-counselor of the Royal Thai Embassy in Beijing, said that Wuhan is a rapidly-growing and vibrant city. This was reportedly the second time she had visited the city. 

The opening ceremony of the conference was held on July 16, when many Wuhan-based enterprises signed collaboration agreements and established business partnerships with their counterparts from ASEAN countries. 

Another highlight of the conference is the four themed forums on digital foundation interactions, AI scenarios and applications, cross-border ecommerce and digital trade, and digital industrial cooperation, respectively.

ASEAN is Wuhan's second largest global trade partner. There are currently 393 Wuhan-based companies invested by 10 ASEAN members, with the total investment exceeding $4.4 billion. 

Meanwhile, Wuhan is taking steps to invest in ASEAN countries as well. Wuhan Fiberhome International Technologies Co, for instance, is the biggest local business partner with ASEAN. According to Li Lei, general manager of the company, they currently operate in ten ASEAN countries, and their wholly owned subsidiaries are scattered throughout Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, Singapore, Vietnam, and Myanmar.