The World Internet Conference Asia-Pacific Summit kicked off today (April 14) at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, with the opening ceremony held this morning. Zheng Yanxiong, Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in Hong Kong, delivered a keynote speech.
Zheng emphasized that HK is a pioneer in internet development, leveraging its traditional strengths as a global financial, shipping, and trade center, alongside new advantages in AI research, innovation, talent concentration, and industrial collaboration. With its unique edge in institutional innovation, multilingualism, cultural inclusivity, and connectivity with both domestic and international markets, Zheng stated that HK is well-positioned to become a leading hub for internet innovation, industry, and culture.
Zheng shared three key perspectives on how HK can serve as a "super-connector" and "super-value-adder" in fostering digital-intelligence integration.
1. Leveraging innovation and technology to lead digital-intelligence integration in Asia-Pacific.
Zheng noted that HK should capitalize on its dense concentration of world-class universities and research institutions to conduct critical research on digital-intelligence integration technologies. By promoting the integration of industry, academia, and research, HK can accelerate the commercialization of technological achievements and adjust its future industrial development.
He also highlighted the importance of advancing the Northern Metropolis development, relying on the HK Science Park's digital resources, and collaborating with key platforms such as Shenzhen's Qianhai, Lok Ma Chau Loop, and Guangzhou's Nansha.
These efforts aim to attract enterprises in the digital-intelligence sector, forming industrial clusters covering AI, big data, cloud computing, and blockchain, thereby fostering collaborative development across the digital-intelligence industry.
2. Harnessing institutional advantages to innovate mechanisms for digital-intelligence integration and build a global data hub.
Zheng stressed the importance of utilizing the "one country, two systems" principle to explore the establishment of cross-border data flow mechanisms in line with international rules. This would facilitate the secure and orderly flow of data and promote resource sharing.
He proposed building shared computing power centers by integrating supercomputing resources to provide affordable computing power for AI development.
Zheng also called for active international cooperation, aligning with the national AI development strategy, and establishing efficient mechanisms for technology regulation, data management, and intellectual property protection in collaboration with relevant national departments.
3. Maximizing connectivity to enhance international cooperation platforms.
Zheng urged HK to fully leverage its status as Asia's event capital and a global hub for conventions and exhibitions. By hosting high-level conferences, forums, and expos such as the World Internet Conference Asia-Pacific Summit, HK can attract global digital-intelligence talent to invest and innovate locally.
He also pointed out that HK's mature legal, financial, and professional services systems provide internationalized support for intellectual property protection, financing, public listings, and legal arbitration. This creates a stronger foundation for Chinese digital-intelligence enterprises to expand globally while encouraging foreign enterprises to enter the Chinese market, continuously empowering and adding value to the industry.
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