Chen Siqi

vankochensq@163.com

THE opening ceremony of Asia-Pacific Digital & Intelligent Economy Sustainable Development Innovation Week was held July 30 in Shenzhen’s Longhua District, bringing together nearly 200 government officials, international organization representatives, business leaders, and academics from almost 30 countries and regions. The four-day event features industry matchmaking, project collaboration, site visits, and international media engagement.

This event is hosted by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the World Innovative Cities Cooperation Organization, under the guidance of the Foreign Affairs Office of Shenzhen Municipal People’s Government and the People’s Government of Longhua District, Shenzhen Municipality. It is organized by the Shenzhen Longhua International Cooperation Center (LICC), with support from the Guangzhou Institute of the Greater Bay Area.

In the era with AI rapid development, Philip Schellekens, chief economist for Asia and the Pacific at the UNDP, mainly talked about his concerning. “The world has changed. We think of 2020 as 2020 BC — not Before Century, but Before ChatGPT,” he said, warning that AI could widen inequality both within and between countries.

Yet he emphasized that the outcome is not predetermined. “The best way to predict the future is to invent it and to steer it,” he said, calling for people-centerd AI development, responsible governance, and global cooperation — precisely what this conference aims to foster.

Shenzhen has emerged as a laboratory for this transformation, home to over 2,600 AI enterprises covering chips, models, hardware, and applications, forming a robust ecosystem led by giants like Huawei and Tencent.

Schellekens offered a striking assessment: “If you want to see the China of the past, look at Beijing and Xi’an. If you want to see the China of today, look at Shanghai. But if you want to see the China of the future, go to Shenzhen.”

Pak Sudrajat, former Ambassador of Indonesia to China, highlighted Indonesia’s digital progress: 95% 4G coverage, 60–80% mobile phone usage for commerce, and homegrown credit and payment systems. Yet challenges persist — digital talent shortages and cybersecurity threats.

On cooperation, he said: “Shenzhen is the Silicon Valley of China. You have technology, speed, and capital. Indonesia would love to cooperate—from software and hardware to AI.” He urged Asian cities to adopt Shenzhen’s “test fast, scale fast” culture, adding: “Shenzhen is the factory of the world, but now it should become the factory of the factory of the world — bringing good things to Asia.”

At the event, 10 Shenzhen-based tech companies showcased their products, ranging from 3D printers and food delivery solutions to humanoid robots. Spanning consumer services and industrial applications, the diverse lineup gave attendees an up-close look at the dynamism of Shenzhen’s technological innovation.