After a year's practice, more and more people have realized that the China-ASEAN Information Harbor is a port for Internet connectivity, information sharing, wealth pooling and culture integration, as well as a port for China and the ASEAN countries to conduct and share the fruits of win-win cooperation.
At last year's forum, a representative from Laos said that Laos is the only landlocked country in South East Asia with no sea port, so it is in desperate need of Internet connectivity and information sharing. The construction of China-ASEAN Information Harbor is exactly an "online port" serving connectivity among China and the ASEA countries by linking all ports and roads. China will continue to follow the concept proposed by President Xi featuring amity, sincerity, mutual benefit and inclusiveness, to cooperate closely with ASEAN countries and to make the China-ASEAN Information Harbor the information hub of the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road. This also means China and ASEAN countries can share the fruits of Internet development.
First, sharing the fruits of the digital economy. In the current period, the digital economy has become the most powerful engine to drive economic development. With the promotion of the "Internet Plus" concept, the growth rate of China's Internet industry is five times higher than the that of GDP. Last year, the trading volume of electronic commerce amounted to 13 trillion yuan ($2 trillion). The Internet shows more and more effect on upgrading industries and supporting the growth of innovative business. China and ASEAN countries are all developing countries with a wide range of needs and great potential in digital economic development. With the China-ASEAN Information Harbor, we hope to develop cross-border electronic commerce, better build a China-ASEAN Information Harbor, create a regional international financial information center, push forward the development of digital economic cooperation, invigorate economic growth as well as industrial restructuration and market expansion, and provide strong support for the upgraded China-ASEAN Free Trade Zone.
Second, sharing qualified information service. The essential attribute of the Internet is to spread information and share information. The national strength of a country is reflected in how much information it holds, while the level of people's livelihood is affected by the information service provision ability of a country. At present, 700 million people in China don't have access to the Internet, while 400 million people in ASEAN countries are not Internet users, either. They have a greater need to get more information, gain knowledge and get rid of poverty via the Internet. We will push forward the establishment of the China-ASEAN Information Harbor fund, increase investment in information infrastructure relying on the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank and the Silk Road Fund. We will establish a portal for China-ASEAN Information Harbor, promote the penetration of the Internet, and break the information barrier and bridge the "digital gap". We'll share with ASEAN countries the information service on economy and finance, education and scientific research, health care and disaster early warning, and let the construction of Information Harbor benefit people in both China and ASEAN countries.
Third, sharing resources in technological innovation. The key to building modern and smart information hubs lies in technology and innovation. We're glad to see more and more enterprises, research institutions, higher education and industrial organizations join the China-ASEAN technology cooperation network to improve the level of technological assembling and enhance the incubation of innovations. Based on the China-ASEAN Information Harbor, we are willing to accelerate technological transfer and cooperation in innovation, plan and conduct technology R&D, transformation and application, participate actively in the standardization of internationally important technologies, and build cooperation pilot projects in cloud computing, the Internet of Things, smart city and smart grid through establishing coalitions of cooperation among information technology industries. We will take the commanding height in related technologies and seize the initiative of development so as to drive cooperation and a win-win solution via means of technological innovations.
