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Statement by Mr. He Fuxiang, Counselor of the Chinese Delegation at the Second Committee of the 74th Session of the UN General Assembly under Agenda Item 16: Information and Communications Technologies for Sustainable Development

2019-10-18 22:00

Madam Chair,

China associates itself with the statement made by the State of Palestine on behalf of the Group of 77 and China.

We thank the Secretary General for the report submitted under this item and the UN Commission on Science and Technology for Development for its work at the 22nd session.

At present, Information and Communications Technologies (ICT) is advancing by leaps and bounds globally. A new generation of ICT featuring 5G, big data, cloud computing, and the Internet of things is interlinked with other advanced technologies such as advanced manufacturing and biotechnology, resulting in new technologies and industrial revolution. This has fundamentally changed the pattern of production and our lifestyle and become an important driving force for the fourth industrial revolution. It has also become an important means for us to achieve sustainable development and the 2030 agenda. Here, I’d like to state the following:

First, the important role of ICT in promoting sustainable development should be fully leveraged. ICT can contribute greatly to the achievement of all the goals in the 2030 agenda. Awareness of the importance of ICT to the 2030 Agenda should be enhanced at national, regional and international levels, so that ICT can become the important means for us to implement the 2030 Agenda. We welcome the fact that the Secretary-General has attached importance to ICT by establishing the High-Level Panel on Digital Cooperation that has carried out extensive consultation on strengthening digital cooperation and put forward recommendations on international cooperation in ICT.

Second, we should help developing countries bridge the digital divide by strengthening their capacity building. According to the report by UNCTAD, only 20% of the population in the LCDs use the Internet while more than 80% in the developed countries do so, and 50% of the world’s population has just gained access to the Internet. Efforts should be made to promote the use of ICT globally, especially in developing countries. We should improve the literacy on ICT among the public to bridge the digital divide. ICT should become the focus in International development assistance, which will help the developing countries develop their ICT infrastructure and improve ICT facilities so that they can share development opportunities.

Third, we should build a community of shared future in ICT and cyberspace. North-South cooperation, South-South cooperation and triangular cooperation in ICT should be strengthened to improve global partnerships. Developed countries should provide more financial resources and technologies to developing countries to help strengthen their capacity building, improve public ICT and network technology capabilities, and jointly build a community of shared future in ICT and cyberspace.

Madam Chair,

China is vigorously implementing the strategy of innovation-driven development, with new ICT being the priority in national development. We have formulated the “Outline of the National ICT Development Strategy” and released the “Strategy for International Cooperation in Cyberspace” to promote synchronized development of ICT, digital economy, informatization, new industrialization, urbanization and agricultural modernization. We have also actively promoted international cooperation in ICT and cyberspace to ensure that all countries can benefit from the results and achieve common development.

China is accelerating the deployment of 5G technology and improving its ICT facilities. We also utilize ICT and network technology in poverty alleviation, bridging the digital divide and development gap between the urban and rural areas.

In addition, China has established six innovation demo zones for the implementation of the 2030 Agenda, with ICT being an important component. China is willing to enhance exchanges and cooperation with other countries to promote the building of digital Belt and Road and a community of shared future in ICT and network technology so that we can jointly share the development opportunities from ICT and the digital economy.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

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