During the 2021 World Internet Conference Wuzhen Summit, the Business Leaders’ Dialogue, co-hosted by Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) and All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce (ACFIC), was held on September 26, 2021. Focused on “Fighting Against COVID-19 and Recovering Economy”, the forum discussed in depth how enterprises could seize new opportunities in the digital era and promote economic recovery and development through digital innovation and cooperation. Xu Lejiang, executive vice chairman of ACFIC, Sheng Ronghua, vice minister of CAC, Gao Xingfu, vice governor of Zhejiang Provincial People’s Government, attended the forum and delivered speeches.

Xu Lejiang pointed out that Chinese President Xi Jinping stressed that the digital economy represents the future direction of global development. In recent years, the advantages of digital technologies such as 5G, artificial intelligence, big data and cloud computing have been further highlighted. New business models spawned by the digital economy have increasingly become an important engine for the world to respond to the impact of COVID-19 and promote the economic recovery. We should give full play to the key role of enterprises to promote high-quality development of the digital economy and add impetus to economic and social development.

Xu mentioned that enterprises should be innovation-oriented so as to promote the digital development. They should enhance their sense of innovation and crisis, actively seize the opportunities of the digital economy, deeply participate in the digital industrialization and the industrial digitization, promote the deep integration of the digital economy and the real economy, and actively play the leading role of digital technologies in transformation and upgrading. It is necessary for enterprises to step up openness and cooperation in order to achieve win-win outcomes for all. Enterprises should actively “go global” to carry out international cooperation on the digital economy, and take advantage of digital means to expand markets and integrate resources, while stepping up protection of technology patents and personal privacy to maintain the security line for the cooperation and development of the digital economy. Enterprises should actively fulfil their corporate social responsibilities. In promoting the development of the digital economy, enterprises should combine the pursuit of business success with the fulfillment of social responsibility, so that digital technologies and the digital economy can better benefit people of all countries and contribute to the building of a community of a shared future for mankind.

Xu said that the ACFIC would further guide and support Chinese private enterprises to adapt to the trend of technological innovation and digital transformation, speed up high-quality development, improve international development capacity, and make greater achievements in the development of the digital economy.

According to Sheng Ronghua, the digital economy has become a critical driving force for global economic recovery and development. Facing the impact of the pandemic, we must follow the trend of digital civilization, seize the opportunities of the digital economy, and continue to give full play to the important role of digital technologies in fighting against the pandemic, resuming work and production, social governance and the people’s welfare, so as to make positive contribution to economic and social development.

Gao Xingfu said that enterprises had made great contribution to the battle against the pandemic. Zhejiang should strive to create an optimal business environment, give full play to the key role of enterprise innovation, speed up digital transformation, inject new strong momentum to economic and social development, support enterprises to break through new digital technologies, apply digital manufacturing, and further stimulate the vitality and power of digital empowerment.

The forum held three keynote speeches centered on “Grasping Opportunities, Digital Cooperation Promotes Global Economic Recovery”, “Innovation Driven, Digital Technology Empowers Social Development” and “Opening and Sharing, Digital Innovation Revives World Economic Engine”, and held a panel discussion themed on “Promote Enterprise Innovation and Transformation with the Deepening of Digital Era”. Representatives of private entrepreneurs such as Zhou Hongyi, chairman of 360 Group,delivered speeches.