Depth report

　　

With the accelerated development of big data, cloud computing, artificial intelligence, blockchain and other cutting-edge technologies, digital Technology based on the new generation of ICT (Information and Communication Technology) technology has become the cornerstone of leading a new round of scientific and technological revolution. It has become an "important variable" for economic growth, industrial transformation and social development of all countries in the world. How to turn digital technologies into "important incremental steps" in global digital development requires countries to pay full attention to international cooperation in the digital field and jointly explore new models of international cooperation in the digital field.

In the course of such exploration, digital cooperation between China and ASEAN, which have already established a comprehensive strategic partnership, has formed a new model for international digital cooperation on the basis of fairness, win-win and complementarity, taking advantage of geographical proximity, close friendship, cultural affinity and business ties.

In recent years, China and ASEAN have conducted practical cooperation in digital economy, cyber security and cyberspace governance, and achieved fruitful results.

Digital economy cooperation

In the digital cooperation between China and ASEAN, digital economy cooperation is at the leading position. The cooperation between China and ASEAN in the field of digital economy has laid a solid foundation for the establishment of the regional digital economy ecosystem:

Information infrastructure construction. China has launched a series of Beidou application activities for Indonesia, Laos and other countries, and cooperation projects have entered a substantive stage. China helped Thailand build a 5G smart demonstration plant in Thailand, and China and Thailand jointly built a new submarine optical cable project to realize broadband connectivity with Thailand.

Digital technology research and development application. China has built and operated a number of data centers for ASEAN countries and overseas cloud computing centers in Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar and other countries. Malaysian and Chinese companies have jointly built Malaysia's first artificial Intelligence Industrial Park. The National University of Singapore and Suzhou Industrial Park have jointly established the "Singapore University Artificial Intelligence Innovation and Cultivation Center". . Chinese Internet companies, including Alibaba, Tencent and Ant, have supported the growth of ASEAN's digital economy through investment and technical support.

New business forms and new models. Jd Smart Logistics Center was built in Thailand, where local consumers can enjoy the convenient service of "order in the morning and deliver in the afternoon".

In the process of digital economy cooperation, the year 2020 has been called the Year of China-Asean Digital Economy Cooperation, and the two sides jointly issued the Initiative on Establishing China-Asean Digital Economy Cooperative Partnership. In 2022, the two sides adopted the Action Plan to Implement the China-Asean Partnership on Digital Economy (2021-2025) to strengthen cooperation in smart cities, 5G, artificial intelligence, e-commerce, big data, blockchain and telemedicine.

Cyber security cooperation

The digital cooperation between China and ASEAN also focuses on cyber security cooperation. Network security is an important part of national security. With the accelerated integration of information technology into all fields of society, all countries are faced with a great threat of network security, both explicit and implicit. How to establish an effective network security management mechanism through cooperation and build a robust and efficient network security solution has become an important issue in international digital cooperation.

In this regard, China and ASEAN have set up the China-Asean Cyber Security Exchange and Training Center. The two countries have set good models of cybersecurity cooperation, such as the China-Asean Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in Non-traditional Security Fields, the Memorandum of Understanding on Capacity-building and Technical Cooperation in Cybersecurity between China and Indonesia, and the Memorandum of Understanding on Cybersecurity Cooperation between China and Thailand, actively exploring effective mechanisms for cybersecurity cooperation.

Joint governance of cyberspace

The digital cooperation between China and ASEAN also emphasizes joint governance in cyberspace. So far, the China-Asean Information Harbor Forum has been successfully held for five consecutive sessions, continuously promoting digital cooperation between China and ASEAN countries, establishing a China-Asean dialogue mechanism on cyber affairs, and promoting the reform and development of the global Internet governance system.

The direction of our efforts

As the digital cooperation between China and ASEAN continues to deepen, studies have shown that the so-called "threat perception towards China" is the main factor determining ASEAN countries' digital cooperation policies towards China, and ASEAN countries with low threat perception are more inclined to actively participate in cooperation with China. Therefore, in the process of enhancing China's positive influence in the global digital field, differentiated cooperation strategies should be formulated according to the digital infrastructure of ASEAN countries and the level of trust in China to highlight the "one country, one policy".

At the same time, the promotion of digital cooperation between China and ASEAN has put forward higher requirements for the development of digital culture and cyber people-to-people exchanges in China. How to shape and strengthen the image of a high-quality country including the image of digital technology, increase the efforts to spread China's advanced digital development concepts to ASEAN and the world, and how to narrow the digital divide and share the digital dividend through dialogue and cooperation at the cusp of the great development of digital technology, has become an important proposition of the international communication of China's digital culture. It has also become the key to carry out digital cultural exchanges between China and ASEAN.

In this process, it is necessary to better release the cooperation potential of Chinese media and the media of ASEAN countries, build strategic partnership with the superior media of ASEAN, and use each other for mutual benefit. Besides, it is necessary to combine the content production advantages of news media with the information distribution advantages of social media platforms to export more information about China to ASEAN. In addition, Chinese TV dramas are popular entertainment products among ASEAN people, and Tiktok APP is widely popular in Southeast Asia. With the help of rich network cultural products, positive cultural relations with ASEAN people can be established more closely. To promote the prosperity and development of digital culture is also the due intention of China-Asean digital cooperation.