On July 10, Sun Chenghao, Fellow and the Head of the U.S.-EU program of the Center for International Security and Strategy (CISS) of Tsinghua University, attended the “Integrate Digital & AI Know-hows to Facilitate Global Interconnectivity and Development”, the Parallel Forum Four of the First High-Level Conference of the Forum on Global Action for Shared Development, and joined the panel discussion as the speaker. 

In the panel discussion, Sun Chenghao focused on sharing his views on the new movement of the U.S.-EU digital infrastructure cooperation and its impact. Sun summarized three features of the cooperation, namely, the infiltration of digital infrastructure rules with Western values, an emphasis on the Indo-Pacific region, and the diversification and institutionalization of financing channels. Sun believed that the development and impact of the cooperation were worth paying attention to, as its movement would pose a certain challenge to China’s promotion of the joint construction of the Digital Silk Road, and would have a profound impact on the international digital economy and market development, as well as the global digital governance pattern.

Sun pointed out that the U.S.-EU digital infrastructure cooperation was also facing some challenges, including the fiscal deficits and public debt that have been bothering the U.S. and EU and their official financing capabilities endorsing the global infrastructure construction that are especially under severe challenges. In addition, the political premise attached to the cooperation and the paradox of values in part of the investments may trigger resistance and skepticism in partner countries. All these challenges will affect the effective implementation of the U.S.-EU global digital infrastructure program in developing countries.

On July 10, the First High-Level Conference of the Forum on Global Action for Shared Development was held in Beijing. Wang Yi, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, read out a congratulatory letter from President Xi Jinping and delivered a keynote speech. Luo Zhaohui, Chairman of the China International Development Cooperation Agency (CIDCA), attended the opening ceremony and delivered a welcome speech. The Forum was hosted by CIDCA, with the theme of “Global Development Initiative: Echo the Development Agenda and Call for Global Action” and four parallel forums of “Global Public Goods, Poverty Reduction and Agricultural Transition: A Critical Juncture for South-South Cooperation,” “Global Green Development in the Context of Carbon Neutrality,” “Capital Mobilization for Sustainable Infrastructure,” and “Integrate Digital & AI Know-hows to Facilitate Global Interconnectivity and Development.”