Cross-straits young men seek cooperation on digital economy

The 16th Straits Youth Forum takes place in Xiamen on June 5 as part of the 10th Straits Forum. [Photo/new.cn]

More than 600 young men from the Chinese mainland, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macao attended the 16th Straits Youth Forum held in Xiamen on June 5 as part of the 10th Straits Forum.

The digital economy became the main forum's hottest topic and there are high hopes that all the cross-Straits participants will collaborate in helping to develop each other's economic development.

Xiong Li, chief executive officer (CEO) of NetDragon Websoft Inc, said that there are huge cooperation opportunities for the Chinese mainland and Taiwan in the field of the digital economy.

The digital economy on the Chinese mainland generated 27.2 trillion yuan ($4.27 trillion) in 2017, up by 20.3 percent year-on-year and its face recognition, voice recognition and driverless technologies lead the world.

Despite these impressive figures coming from the Chinese mainland, the digital economy actually emerged earlier in Taiwan, and its semiconductor industry tops the world.

Huang Guanyu from the Taiwan Jinmen Association of Fellow Townsmen hoped to introduce the advanced virtual reality technology from the Chinese mainland to Jinmen.

"Jinmen boasts rich historical sites and buildings with unique styles," Huang said. "The virtual reality technology can help visitors experience the way the man of the past lived, which would help promote the local tourism industry."

The rapid development of new technologies, such as artificial intelligence and big data, requires people from both the Chinese mainland and Taiwan to work together and share the benefits that the digital economy can bring, Li Zhonggui, founder of Taiwan China Youth Exchange Association said.

Three sub forums were also held on the same day, including a roundtable meeting for directors of cross-Straits youth communities, a forum among cross-Straits youth social organizations, and a cross-Straits talent forum.

The Straits Youth Forum, organized by the All-China Youth Federation, Taiwan's Chinese Youth International Organization and the Taiwan Young Entrepreneurs Association, has served as a platform where cross-Straits young people can seek cooperation and share development opportunities with each other over the past 15 years.