Chongqing — The 2020 South-South Cooperation and Digital Economy Development Forum kicked off in Chongqing on November 25. With the support of China International Center for Economic and Technological Exchanges and UN Global South-South Development Project, the forum was co-sponsored online and offline by China Council for the Promotion of International Trade Chongqing Sub-council, Chongqing University, and Chongqing International Culture Exchanges Center.

This forum focused on cooperation among developing countries in the digital economy under the post-epidemic era and invited more than 100 guests, including United Nations agencies, developing countries’ embassies and consulates in China, experts in the field of the digital economy, universities and business representatives, to discuss the development of digital economy opportunities and challenges, exploring new models and new approaches for South-South cooperation.

South-South cooperation refers to the economic and technical cooperation between developing countries (because the geographic locations of developing countries are mostly located in the southern part of the southern and northern hemispheres). South-South cooperation aims to promote the ability to develop countries to disseminate knowledge or experience in all human activities and share with each other. The main content includes promoting technical and economic cooperation among developing countries. It is committed to strengthening infrastructure exchanges and cooperation in construction, energy and environment, small and medium-sized enterprises development, human resources development, health education, and so on.

Ms. Xiaojun Wang, Deputy Director of the United Nations Office of South-South Cooperation, delivered an opening ceremony remarks.

In the opening speech, Ms. Xiaojun Wang, Deputy Director of the United Nations Office of South-South Cooperation, pointed out that in the context of the covid-19 epidemic, the economic and social benefits that the digital economy can produce are particularly prominent. The nature of the digital economy is global and cross-border. To realize the grand vision of the digital economy, cooperation between countries is inseparable. In promoting the digital economy, it is bound to require more dialogues at the international level to form consensus and decision-making, which requires the full participation and strengthening of cooperation among developing countries. It can be said that South-South cooperation is the necessary support to realize the grand vision of the digital economy and fully realize its potential.

Ming Ju, Vice President of Chongqing University, delivered an opening ceremony remarks.

"This event is of great significance to Chongqing higher education, especially to Chongqing University." Ming Ju, Vice President of Chongqing University, said in an interview with reporters that Chongqing University hopes to play its role as a higher education leader in Chongqing to promote Chongqing's international development and exchanges. He also hopes to use this conference to strengthen cooperation and exchanges with higher education in the South-South region, especially in terms of talent training.

Masudur Rahman, Minister of the Embassy of Bangladesh in China, took an interview.

Masudur Rahman, Minister of the Embassy of Bangladesh in China, said in an interview that South-South cooperation is essential for developing countries like Bangladesh. Chongqing is an important node city for South-South cooperation, so he hopes that Chongqing will be like cities such as Guangzhou, Hong Kong, and Macau, which can widely participate in South-South cooperation with Bangladesh. At present, many large Chinese companies have invested in Bangladesh. These projects have good prospects. It is hoped that similar projects will provide a model for more South-South cooperation and promote South-South cooperation between China and other developing countries.

The forum lasted for two days. On November 26, guests of the forum visited the city's digital economy industry and discuss Chongqing's digital economy's development plan.