Xi sends congratulatory letter to China-SCO forum on digital economy, Smart China Expo

Photo taken on Aug. 22, 2021 shows the venue of the 2021 Smart China Expo in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality. (Xinhua/Wang Quanchao)

BEIJING, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory letter to the China-Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Forum on the Digital Economy Industry and the Smart China Expo 2021, which both opened Monday in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality.

The world has entered a period of rapid growth in the digital economy, in which new technologies, business patterns and platforms such as 5G, artificial intelligence and smart cities have sprung up and greatly influenced scientific innovation, industrial structure adjustment and economic and social development across the globe, Xi said in the letter.

In recent years, China has actively promoted digital industrialization and industrial digitization to push for deep integration between digital technologies and economic and social development, he noted.

On the occasion of the 20th founding anniversary of the SCO, China is willing to, together with other SCO member states, carry forward the Shanghai Spirit and get deeply involved in international cooperation on the digital economy, Xi stressed.

Digitization, networking and intelligence shall provide more momentum for economic and social development, he said, calling for breaking new ground in digital economy cooperation.