Huawei Corporate Senior Vice President, Catherine Chen, delivered a keynote speech at a recent online Better World Summit 2020, saying that telecom regulators across many nations and industries must work together to address the “shared” challenges that have emerged as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and create a more inclusive future for all.
Other speakers at the summit included representatives from the International Telecommunication Union Radiocommunication Sector, Global System for Mobile Communications, the European Competitive Telecommunications Association, the South African Department of Communications and Digital Technologies, Thailand’s Office of the National Digital Economy and Society Commission, China’s Academy of Information and Communications Technology, the Germany Association of the Internet Industry, and the ADL.
These speakers were joined by several thousand online attendees from more than 80 countries to explore how industry policy can promote development of the digital economy, facilitate economic recovery, and build a better future for all, by all.
According to the ITU, over half of the world’s population still does not have Internet access nor access to other digital technologies, adding that as economies across countries slow, governments grow increasingly concerned with economic recovery strategies.
“We envision a more connected, intelligent, and innovative future,” said Chen. “Above all else, we must ensure this is an inclusive, sustainable, and better future by all, for all.”
A statement by Huawei stated that multiple governments have launched a variety of stimulus plans, and ICT has held a key place in these plans.
In China, it said, “the New Infrastructure plan has set aside over $140bn” to be invested in 5G alone over the next five years. This is expected to grow China’s digital economy by more than $2tn and boost domestic economic recovery.
The EU, according to the statement, has also announced a €1.1tn package to enhance economic recovery.
“To revive the economy, we need top-down designs, as well as bottom-up creativity and vitality,” noted Chen.
“Supporting government policies coupled with active digital transformation across the industry will bring the benefits of digital technology to all industries, boost their efficiency, and restore growth.”
Referencing the recent World Bank report on the growing gap between the fast-growing global digital economy and a lack of digital skills, Chen said, “Huawei is continuing with its flagship Seeds for the Future programme. This programme was launched in 2008, and is designed to develop local ICT talent. So far, this programme has benefited more than 30,000 students from over 400 universities in 108 countries and regions.
“Due to the pandemic, we are moving the programme online and opening it up to more outstanding students than ever before. As more industries adopt digital technologies, they will drive the United Nation’s 2030 Strategic Development Goals, especially those related to climate change.”
The Better World Summit was broadcast live in Chinese, English, Spanish, French, Russian, Korean, Japanese, and Arabic. For more information, click here.
