The 2024 Global Development Initiative Digital Cooperation Forum was held on November 21, 2024, during the World Internet Conference Wuzhen Summit. The forum was jointly hosted by the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC), the China International Development Cooperation Agency (CIDCA), and the Chinese People’s Institute of Foreign Affairs (CPIFA). The participants had in-depth exchanges on global digital cooperation issues of common interest, under the theme of "Jointly Usher in a New Stage of Digital Cooperation and Design a New Blueprint for Global Development".

In 2021, Chinese President Xi Jinping proposed the Global Development Initiative (GDI), which represents an important public good provided by China to the international community in the new era and is a significant practice of the concept of a community with a shared future for mankind in the field of global development. China has always been committed to advancing global digital cooperation in a deep and practical manner and has hosted the Global Development Initiative Digital Cooperation Forum for two consecutive years in 2022 and 2023, advocating deepening global digital cooperation, sharing digital development opportunities, promoting balanced, coordinated and inclusive global development, and jointly building a community with a shared future in cyberspace.

In 2024, global digital cooperation continues to deepen, with expanding areas of cooperation and increasingly significant cooperation achievements. However, it also faces challenges and issues such as rising risks to global digital industrial and supply chains, prominent risks in artificial intelligence (AI) applications, and obstacles to cross-border data flow. In response to these new situations and challenges, we call for:

1. Strengthening Inclusive Cooperation for Sustainable Development of Digital Economy

Extensively cooperate on cross-border digital infrastructure projects, vigorously promote the development of global communication infrastructure, actively facilitate the balanced deployment of global computing infrastructure, and effectively enhance the level of connectivity of new global digital infrastructure;

Deeply carry out inclusive international digital cooperation, vigorously promote scientific and technological innovation and the application of scientific and technological achievements, advance the deep integration of digital technology with the real economy, strengthen international cooperation in industrial and supply chains, optimize and enhance the security level of global digital industrial and supply chains, and promote high-quality development of the global digital economy;

Actively carry out international cooperation on the interoperability of data factors, strengthen data connectivity, and bridge differences in data flow. We call on all parties to support the Global Cross-border Data Flow Cooperation Initiative, and the Global Data Security Initiative proposed by China, promote global cooperation on cross-border data flow, and jointly build an open and mutually beneficial landscape for international cooperation in the data sphere.

2. Advancing Digital Governance Process and Fostering an Open and Inclusive Digital Landscape

Strengthen coordination of policies, laws and regulations in the digital field among countries, promote the development of international digital rules and digital technical standards, work to make global digital governance system more just and equitable, jointly shape a new landscape in global digital governance in order to flexibly respond to challenges in the digital age;

Encourage and guide the development of new technologies and applications such as AI to uphold a people-centered approach and develop for good. Cultivate a secure, reliable, equitable, and transparent ecosystem for the research, development and application of AI technologies, continuously deepen international exchanges and cooperation in technical standards, ethical guidelines, laws, and regulations, and promote the formation of a global AI governance system based on broad consensus;

Jointly create an open, fair, equitable, and non-discriminatory digital business environment, actively maintain the openness, security, and stability of the supply chain for global information technology products and services, provide environmental support for the fair, healthy, and inclusive development of the digital economy, offer more market, investment, and development opportunities for companies of all countries, and inject sustained impetus for world economic growth.

3. Deepening Exchanges and Mutual Learning to Create a Better Digital Future

Support the role of the United Nations in overall coordination of global development and cooperation, encourage more digital development and cooperation projects benefiting developing countries under the United Nations and other multilateral frameworks, and accelerate the implementation of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Global Digital Compact;

Deepen multilateral and multi-stakeholder exchanges and mutual learning, encourage and support countries and regions to actively participate in global, regional, and industry-specific digital cooperation, and jointly build a global development partnership featuring solidarity, equality, balance, and inclusiveness. Enhance the representation and voice of global southern countries in global digital governance, carry out inclusive and equitable international digital cooperation, and bridge the digital divide;

Strengthen practical cooperation in digital capacity building and talent exchange, promote the open sharing of information resources among countries, conduct joint training of digital talents, and continuously improve the digital literacy and skills for all, so that all people can share the digital dividends and enjoy a better digital future.

China stands ready to work with all parties to jointly deepen cooperation under the GDI, implement the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, share the fruitful results of global digital cooperation, and build a closer community with a shared future in cyberspace.