The World Internet Conference as a global major annual event has been successfully hosted for 6 years since 2014. In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic continues to spread, which has significantly affected global socio-economic development. However, the development of new generation of information technology and digital application innovation have empowered the scientific prevention and control measures in the fight against COVID-19. It is undeniable that digital economy has also been vital in driving global economic revival. In light of this, the World Internet Conference Committee organized World Internet Conference Internet Development Forum in Wuzhen, Zhejiang Province, from 23 to 24 November.

During the event, the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation on Cyberspace was successfully held in the morning of Nov 24, with the theme“Adhering to Openness and Inclusiveness, Promoting Interconnectivity”. The Forum was jointly hosted by National Development and Reform Commission, P.R.China, the Chinese People's Institute of Foreign Affairs, and co-organized by the Internet Society of China. High-level representatives of governments, international organizations, enterprises, technical communities, research institutes and industry associations from home and abroad were invited to share their insights on such topics as leveraging digital economy to fight against COVID-19 and promoting economic recovery, optimizing the digital business environment, enhancing construction of information infrastructure and jointly maintaining cybersecurity.

Zhao Zeliang, Vice Minister of Cyberspace Administration of China, Wu Hao, Deputy Secretary General of National Development and Reform Commission, P.R.China, Li Huilai, Vice President of Chinese People's Institute of Foreign Affairs, and Shang Bing, President of the Internet Society of China, gave opening remarks for the forum.

In his remark, Shang Bing proposed three pieces of suggestion on enhancing B&R international cooperation on cyberspace, the first is to strengthen the construction of information infrastructure and improve network service capabilities, the second is to optimize the digital business environment to empower enterprises transformation and upgrading, the third is to promote the development of digital trade and deepen international cooperation.

H.E. Shaukat Aziz, Former Prime Minister of Pakistan, H.E. Thani Bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of State for Foreign Trade of UAE, Vunnaporn Devahastin, Secretary General, National Digital Economy and Society Commission of Thailand and Chairman of the Digital Economy Steering Group under APEC’s Committee on Trade and Investment, Cecilia Bonefeld-Dahl, Director General of Digital Europe, and Alfred Sit Wing-hang, Secretary of Innovation and Technology Bureau, the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the P.R.China, release keynotes under the session theme "Leveraging digital economy to fight against COVID-19 and promoting economic recovery".

Multi-staked representatives joint two panel discussion under the session: Optimizing the digital business environment and enhancing construction of information infrastructure.

Mr. Shang Bing, President of the Internet Society of China, gave opening remarks for the forum.