Summit to stress connected world's digital future

This year's edition of the World Internet Conference Wuzhen Summit is expected to create an important platform for international exchanges and cooperation in cyberspace, and demonstrate the cutting-edge internet technologies and application scenarios, the event's organizer said on Monday.

The summit is scheduled to take place both online and offline from Nov 9 to 11 in Wuzhen, Zhejiang province, said the organizer, the WIC, a Beijing-based international organization set up in July.

This year's theme is "Toward a Shared Digital Future in a Connected World — Building a Community with a Shared Future in Cyberspace".

Ren Xianliang, secretary-general of the WIC, said at a news conference in Beijing on Monday that nearly 2,000 representatives from governments, international organizations, industry associations, internet enterprises, universities, think tanks and research institutes from over 120 countries and regions will attend the summit online or offline.

"The conference will set up 20 sub-forums on hot spots in global cyberspace this year, with a focus on cooperation and development, technology and industry, culture and society, as well as governance and security," Ren said.

Ren said the three-day event will focus on new trends and some hot topics, such as digital infrastructure, the global development initiative, bridging the digital divide, artificial intelligence and digital ethics, in order to promote discussions and exchanges as well as deepen consensus.

"Some frontier technologies, including artificial intelligence, augmented reality, virtual reality and metaverse, will be used at the venues, exhibition areas and scenic spots to provide interactive experience for visitors," said Wang Gang, head of the publicity department of the Zhejiang Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China.

Wang said more than 400 enterprises from about 40 countries and regions will participate in this year's Light of Internet Expo both online and offline, demonstrating the latest technologies and products covering the industrialization of digital technologies, digital transformation of industries, digital infrastructure and cyberspace governance.

The event will highlight this year's leading internet, scientific and technological achievements, present the outstanding cases of "Jointly Building a Community with a Shared Future in Cyberspace" and hold the "Straight to Wuzhen" global internet competition.

In addition, the blue books of the World Internet Conference — the China Internet Development Report 2022 and the World Internet Development Report 2022 — will be released during the event.

The WIC aims to establish a global internet platform for extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits, and promote the international community to follow the trend of digitalization, networking and intelligence.