Hong Kong, mainland China sign ‘milestone’ MOU on promoting digital economy Hong Kong authorities have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with mainland China’s top internet regulator to promote the digital economy, with the city’s leader pledging to contribute to building a strong technological nation. The MOU was signed on Sunday by Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry Sun Dong and Wang Jingtao, deputy director of the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC), and covers topics including artificial intelligence (AI) promotion, cross-boundary data flow and blockchain. Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu and CAC director Zhuang Rongwen witnessed the signing of the MOU, which aims to support the implementation of the nation’s 15th five-year plan for China’s economic and social development between 2026 and 2030. It also strives to support Hong Kong in becoming an international innovation and technology (I&T) centre, promote a new economy driven by the I&T industry and deepen the integration of the city into national development. Lee said the MOU marked a new milestone in cooperation on developing the digital economy, while fully showing the country’s support for Hong Kong’s I&T development. “Hong Kong will continue to capitalise on our distinctive advantages of having strong support from the motherland and close connection with the world under the ‘one country, two systems’ [governing] principle,” he said. “[Hong Kong will continue to] deepen collaboration with the CAC to further promote cross-boundary data flow in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area and jointly contribute to building a technologically advanced nation.” The Greater Bay Area is a Beijing initiative to turn Hong Kong, Macau and nine cities in neighbouring Guangdong province into an integrated economic and business hub. Lee added that the government would strive to develop the city into an international I&T centre and a hub for high-end international talent, while actively aligning with the 15th five-year plan and formulating the city’s own five-year plan. The MOU was signed ahead of the two-day World Internet Conference Asia-Pacific Summit in Hong Kong, which opens on Monday. Lee said the city would proactively demonstrate its strengths in the digital economy and innovation capabilities at the summit, and leverage its role as a bridge for “going global and attracting foreign investment to deepen international exchanges and expand opportunities for I&T collaboration”. https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3349815/hong-kong-mainland-china-sign-milestone-mou-promoting-digital-economy?pgtype=live (ICE HONG KONG)

Fonte notizia: South China Morning Post