Friends who meet for the first time treat each other as warmly as the scorching sun in August. From August 2 to 22, 2022, the Seminar on Digital Economy and Big Data Management for Laos sponsored by the Ministry of Commerce of the People's Republic of China and organized by the Academy for International Business Officials (AIBO) was successfully held. 17 participants from the Laos Postal Service, the Ministry of Information and Digital Technology of Laos and the provincial departments of technology and communications attended the seminar.
Figure 1 The online “cloud” photo shot at opening ceremony
The seminar, which was presented live online in the whole process, has witnessed nearly 30 special lectures, discussions and exchanges around the theme, systematically elaborated the development trend and status quo of digital economy and big data management in China, and shared China's achievements in digital economy and big data management in recent years, covering the digital transformation of traditional industries, cross-border e-commerce, industrial Internet, smart cities, energy Internet, artificial intelligence, smart government, etc. Besides, all-round and friendly exchanges were also conducted with Lao participants.
Figure 2 Video screenshot of blessing by Viradeth SIXANONH
“China is our good friend indeed!”
The heartfelt words expressed in fluent Chinese from Viradeth SIXANONH, a participant from the Science and Technology Innovation Department, the Ministry of Technology and Communications of Laos.
Attending this seminar witnessed SIXANONH’s another wonderful experience in China. In 2019, he graduated from Yunnan University with a master's degree for excellent grades. After returning to the Science and Technology Innovation Department, the Ministry of Technology and Communications of Laos, he has been engaged in the works relating to science and technology innovation management and technology. He acknowledged that his career as a student in China not only enriched him with a lot of professional and technical knowledge, but also aroused his great affection for China where he has made a lot of Chinese friends.
Figure 3 Graduation photo of Viradeth SIXANONH in Yunnan University
“We are truly in need of China’s experience in digital economy!”
From 2017 to 2021, China leaped forward from US $4 trillion to US $6.7 trillion in the total value of digital economy, ranking the second in the world, with an average annual growth rate of 13.6%. The digital economy has seen a rising proportion in GDP from 32.9% to 39.8% and taken the lead in the world in the development scale, becoming one of the main engines contributing the economic growth. China and Laos, as long-term friendly neighbors, are linked by mountains and rivers. Both countries maintain the momentum of bilateral relations and enjoy the fruitful practical cooperation. In the context of the fast-growing digital economy, a closer economic integration between China and Laos will better benefit the peoples of the two countries.
SIXANONH, who is engaged in science and technology management, learned about the fast-changing digital economy in China long ago, and experienced the dramatic social changes in the country as early as when he studied there. Therefore, he signed up for the seminar as soon as he heard about it. “I must seize the opportunity. We are in urgent need of China’s experience in digital economy.” He said.
“We have had an multidimensional understanding of China!”
At the closing ceremony of the seminar, Viradeth SIXANONH delivered a speech as a representative of Lao participants. He concluded that this seminar has helped Lao officials learn from a professional perspective about China's experience and methods concerning digital economy and big data management, including digital transformation, industrial Internet, cross-border e-commerce, artificial intelligence, development of Internet enterprise, and more importantly, the introduction to the history of China's political system and economic development, opening up policy, macroeconomic situation, achievements in poverty alleviation, and the 14th Five Year Plan in the curriculum presents a more all-round understanding of China for the participants of this seminar, most of whom are young Lao technical officials of the post-85 and post-90 generation. What impressed SIXANONH most was that the Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, the “Belt and Road Initiative” advocated by President Xi, and the concept of a community with a shared future for mankind coincide with the development concept of Laos. To this end, Lao officials believe that bilateral cooperation will achieve mutual benefit and win-win results and contribute more to the welfare of the two peoples.
In addition to daily study, with the help of the cloud technology, Lao officials and students were guided to visit and tour the Summer Palace, the Temple of Heaven, the Palace Museum, the Badaling Great Wall and other places of interest, to enjoy the famous Chinese Peking Opera art and experience the drawing of facial make-up in Peking Opera.
Figure 4 Beijing Opera facial make-ups painted by participants in the cultural course of the seminar
“I’m eager to apply for my doctorate in China!”
“China has demonstrated its strength in digital economy and big data management, from which we can learn experiences and methods. I like China, and China is also a real good friend of Laos. I’m continue eager to return to China to study for a doctorate!” Viradeth SIXANONH told the executive team with great anticipation following this seminar.
Since the establishment of diplomatic ties 61 years ago, China and Laos have always been cordially connected, brought tangible benefits to people of both countries, and set a model for exchanges between countries. In recent years, both countries have maintained a deepening bilateral economic and trade cooperation, and China has been Laos' second largest trading partner, the largest exporter and investor, bringing tangible benefits to the two countries. As China and Laos jointly build the “Digital Silk Road”, Laos and Chinese enterprises are increasingly intensifying their cooperation in big data, cloud computing, mobile broadband, cross-border e-commerce, media content, Internet value-added services, etc., helping to bridge the regional digital divide, sharing the fruits of digital economic development with more people, and promoting the social and economic development.
The Lao people believe that one piece of firewood does not make high flames, and a single wood stick does not make a fence, which is exactly the philosophy that China has always pursued, since China does not achieve development in isolation from each other, but commits to the joint development with the entire international community, including Laos. China is ready to work with all parties to promote the implementation of the Global Development Initiative and the Global Security Initiative, and actively promote the building of a community with a shared future for mankind. We hope that, by taking this seminar as an opportunity, we enhance the cooperation between China and Laos in the formulation of relevant policies and regulations, in the personnel training, modern digital technology, network security and other aspects in the field of digital economy and big data, so as to further promote the building of a community of shared future between both countries.
The stories of the friendship between Viradeth SIXANONH and China mentioned in this article are still going on, and will be more and more in the future. In the coming days, we will tell the Chinese story to the world with more passion, more meticulous service and more perfect posture.
Figure. 5 Guo Weihe, Program Director of the seminar, and Cheng Zheng and Zhu Lianzi, the assistants
