Video Message
Excellencies,
Distinguished Participants,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I am very honoured to address this commemorative event of the 2023 World Internet Conference Wuzhen Summit, that marks its ten-year anniversary.
Since 2014, Wuzhen Summit has gathered notable dignitaries and institutions from around the world, representing Governments, the business community, non-governmental and international organizations. This has allowed the forum to contribute to global development on a wide range of topics - from data governance to digital cooperation and emerging technologies, to youth and our digital future.
I applaud China for the foresight in establishing this forum for dialogue as a contribution to global digital cooperation and solidarity.
The focus of this year’s Summit on creating inclusivity and resilience in a shared digital future addresses critical issues facing the global community.
The SDG Summit, held at the UN Headquarters in September, highlighted that Government leaders and all stakeholders must step up collective action, ambition, and aspiration, to drive the transformation needed to deliver the Sustainable Development Goals, to renew hope and to make a positive difference for future generations.
Likewise, just last month, at the 18th meeting of the Internet Governance Forum in Kyoto, the United Nations Secretary-General called for the global community to work together to close the connectivity gap and bring the remaining 2.6 billion people online, in particular women and girls in least developed countries.
The need for swift and collaborative action for a just digital transition is clear.
Excellencies,
Distinguished Participants,
At the Summit of the Future, scheduled less than one year away, Member States will adopt a Pact for the Future to reaffirm our commitment to the United Nations Charter and aim to accelerate the implementation of existing agreements, including the Sustainable Development Goals.
Ambitious in its scope, the Summit of the Future will cover five broad issues, including technology and innovation and digital cooperation.
Member States are expected to agree on a Global Digital Compact that details our shared vision of a just digital future.
Your discussions here can inform these processes.
I look forward to the outcomes of the Wuzhen Summit, and the contributions they will make to pave the way forward to our shared future in cyberspace.
Thank you.