The 14th International Infrastructure Investment and Construction Forum (IIICF) held in Macao highlighted the significance of digital and green infrastructure in achieving sustainable development under the Belt and Road Initiative. With the theme of ‘Green Leadership, Digital Intelligence, Financial Empowerment, Win-Win Cooperation’, the forum emphasised the importance of global collaboration and the role of digital innovation in overcoming the challenges faced by infrastructure development in the current era.
During the opening ceremony, Guo Tingting, Vice Minister of Commerce, acknowledged the 10th anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). She emphasised the BRI’s contribution to infrastructure development, connectivity and fostering people-to-people ties among participating countries. Guo highlighted the opportunities brought by digital development in international infrastructure cooperation while acknowledging the new challenges in an ever-changing global landscape. She expressed China’s commitment to deepening digital infrastructure cooperation with all stakeholders, injecting renewed vitality into interconnectivity—an essential aspect of the Belt and Road Initiative.
Guo emphasised the role of the digital economy as a catalyst for economic growth, driving innovation and development. She emphasised China’s willingness to collaborate with other nations to enhance digital infrastructure cooperation and achieve inclusive development. China has already signed memorandums of understanding with relevant departments of different countries, particularly developing nations, to strengthen international investment cooperation in digital infrastructure.
Sainbuyan Amarsaikhan, Deputy Prime Minister of Mongolia, outlined the country’s long-term development policy known as ‘Vision 2050’. This policy aims to enhance socio-economic and human development by establishing a technology and innovation-driven knowledge-based sector of the economy.
Mongolia has implemented various measures to upgrade information and communication technology readiness and infrastructure capacity, including creating a conducive legal environment for digitalisation. Amarsaikhan highlighted the importance of public information systems as pillars of the digital transition and announced the establishment of the Ministry of Digital Development and Communication in Mongolia. He expressed the country’s readiness to collaborate in Green leadership, digital intelligence-driven finance, and mutually beneficial infrastructure development cooperation.
The IIICF in Macao emphasised the pivotal role of digital and green infrastructure in achieving sustainable development under the Belt and Road Initiative. Participants recognised the transformative potential of digital innovation and highlighted the need for global cooperation in addressing the challenges of infrastructure development.