On the afternoon of April 25^th, 2019, the Thematic Forum on Digital Silk Road of the 2^nd Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, with the theme of "Jointly Building the 21^st Century Digital Silk Road", was held at the China National Convention Center in Beijing. The Sub-forum was hosted by the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) and the State Internet Information Office and coordinated by the CCUD.

The Thematic Forum on Digital Silk Road

This Thematic Forum had two rounds of high-end dialogues. Representatives from the governments, think tanks, the industrial and commercial circles, the UN, the AU and other international organizations shared brilliant views on the themes of "Digital Economy Gives Impetus to Inclusive Growth and Sustainable Development", and "Smart Cities and Digital Technologies Create a Better Life for the People". Jean-Pierre RAFFARIN, Former Prime Minister of France and Current Special Representative for French President on China Affairs, Essam SHARAF, Former Prime Minister of Egypt, Mushahid Hussain SYED, Senator of Pakistan and other members of RDI International Advisory Committee, as well as Baige ZHAO, Chair of Advisory Committee of RDI and Yulong SHI, Director of CCUD, attended the Thematic Forum.

Jean-Pierre RAFFARIN put forward three suggestions from the perspective of promoting the smart city cooperation along the B&R: 1) establishing a multilateral mechanism to promote investment and financing through setting up funds, for example, Foundation Prospective and Innovation can jointly set up investment funds with Chinese institutions; 2) promoting project cooperation between countries; 3) supporting private enterprises to jointly participate in project investment and carry out large projects through cooperation.

Yulong SHI pointed out that the wave for digital technology development is unprecedented in today's world, and the digital practice represented by smart city construction is profoundly changing our lives. In the digital era, the B&R construction is also committed to advancing the development of big data, cloud computing and smart city, so as to build the Digital Silk Road of the 21^st century by using above technologies. Building an interconnected digital world requires the active participation of governments, private sectors, civil societies and international organizations. Cases and experiences of various countries in smart city and digital technology development can inspire each other.

Baige ZHAO and International Experts of RDI

First row: Baige ZHAO, Jean-Pierre RAFFARIN, Essam SHARAF,

Iqbal SURVE, Mushahid Hussain SYED (from left to right)

Second row: Kui FENG, Yilan Dun, Claude LEBLANC, Moustafa HAWARY (from left to right)

During the 2^nd Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, RDI held a RDI International Expert Seminar in Beijing, aiming at promoting the urban development and emerging technology application in the B&R countries. The Seminar was presided over by Baige ZHAO, Chair of Advisory Committee of RDI. Jean-Pierre RAFFARIN, Former Prime Minister of France, Essam SHARAF, Former Prime Minister of Egypt, Mushahid Hussain SYED, Senator of Pakistan, Iqbal SURVE, Adviser to President of South Africa, Claude LEBLANC, Representative of Foundation Prospective and Innovation, Kui FENG, Secretary-General of Academic Committee of CCUD, Yilan DUN, Member of the Standing Committee of and Chairman of the Board of Supervisors of China National Chemical Engineering Group Corporation Ltd., Wenjie SUN, Partner of Grandall Law Firm, and members of RDI Secretariat attended the Seminar.

Experts attending this Seminar held in-depth discussions on how to further optimize and play the role of the platform service system, to continue providing systematic support for RDI platform enterprises, and how to further enhance the international competitiveness of RDI platform enterprises, to speed up their pace to go global. The experts also reached an important consensus on multilateral cooperation and, in particular, discussed specific measures to provide systematic support for RDI platform enterprises in seven services, including legal service, policy research, technical standard, information service, financial support, culture and brand and capacity-building and matters related to the Euro-China Green and Smart City Summit to be held in Nanning, Guangxi, in September 2019.

 Baige ZHAO, Chair of Advisory Committee of RDI, attended at the Seminar

Baige ZHAO said that the new globalization forges ahead with the environment of peace and development and the B&R has become an important carrier of the new globalization. RDI has been committed to leading and promoting the development of science and technology industries in the B&R countries and regions, and continuously attracting more and more international outstanding experts and scholars to gather on the RDI platform. ZHAO pointed out that the balanced economic, political, cultural, social, and ecological progress marked the new historical stage of China's socialist modernization. In recent years, RDI has been continuously committed to discovering, cultivating and promoting science and technology enterprises on its platform, and carrying out integrated top-level design of emerging new technologies, products, standards and brands. Enterprises are the market players of China's "Going Global" strategy and the source of creativity. Therefore, enterprise investments should not be ignored in the process of the B&R construction. RDI has been working for the development of enterprises and helping them understand the political and legal information of B&R countries and avoid investment risks. Therefore, at the time of the 4^th Industrial Revolution, "How to Form an Important Force to Jointly Promote Social Development" has become a hot topic.

 Essam SHARAF, Former Prime Minister of Egypt, Jean-Pierre RAFFARIN, Former Prime Minister of France and Baige ZHAO, Chair of Advisory Committee of RDI (from left to right)

Jean-Pierre RAFFARIN pointed out that achievements of the BRI around the world prove it to be a highly effective initiative. China is a  powerful country with a huge market, while France has some advantages, especially in talent cultivation. He hoped that China and France will reach a consensus on jointly inspire, create and design some future products by forming a joint wisdom force with the RDI platform, thus pushing forward some mutually beneficial and win-win projects between China and France and promoting products jointly manufactured by China and France in the world.

Essam SHARAF pointed out that today's world is at a crossroads and needs a new global governance system. The BRI enables connectivity of different civilizations and cultures in the world, narrows the development gap and bridges different cultures, which will have a profound influence on human values. The B&R has played a great role in promoting the development of green technologies and smart cities in China and Egypt. Egypt is willing to learn from China's advanced development experience and hopes for exchanges and cooperation with outstanding innovative enterprises on the RDI platform.

Essam SHARAF, Former Prime Minister of Egypt, Iqbal SURVE, Adviser to President of South Africa, Mushahid Hussain SYED, Senator of Pakistan and Baige ZHAO, Chair of Advisory Committee of RDI (from left to right)

Mushahid Hussain SYED said that the people-to-people bonds are the deepest and longest-lasting connectivity and become even more relevant to the new context of the world. RDI, an example of China's new think tank, has established a systematic mechanism for dialogue and cooperation. He hoped for further pragmatic cooperation with RDI will be carried out in the field of people-to-people bonds.

Iqbal SURVE, Adviser to President of South Africa suggested that the platform should be used to promote communication and cooperation between governments and enterprises, between cities, between science/ technology department and enterprise, and between society and media organizations. Iqbal SURVE initiated the establishment of a media alliance composed of 43 international media. He hoped to join hands with RDI to expand its friends' circle, so as to make it an engine for future platform development.

The BRI was proposed by China, but it shares the opportunities and achievements with the whole world. This is a cause that requires the joint efforts of our partners in the long-run. The 2^nd Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation sends a clear signal to the outside world that the BRI's friends' circle is getting larger and larger; with more partners, higher cooperation quality, and better development prospect, RDI will put into practice the consensus reached at this Forum. It will continuously enhance the B&R construction, steadily progress in the long-term high-quality development, so as to create a better future.