Written by Wang Gongqing / Translated by Mao Yuye

Intensify China-ASEAN Information Networks to Create an “Internet Plus” Ecosphere
-- An exclusive interview with Zhuang Rongwen， Deputy Director of the State Internet Information Office of the People's Republic of China

Written by Wang Gongqing / Translated by Mao Yuye

Today the construction of the Belt and Road is in full swing. The connectivity is expanding to network information beyond areas of land, water and air routes. Against such a backdrop, how to deepen China-ASEAN information networks by catching the tailwind of the Belt and Road construction? How will the China-ASEAN Expo (CAEXPO) such a crucial platform for the bilateral pragmatic cooperation boost the information connectivity? And what role does the permanent host place of CAEXPO Guangxi play in the China-ASEAN information networks connectivity? As the 13th CAEXPO is around the corner, China-ASEAN Panorama interviewed the Deputy Director of the State Internet Information Office Zhuang Rongwen to answer the following questions.

Intensify information connectivity in concerted efforts

China-ASEAN Panorama: As the Belt and Road Initiative deepens, how to intensify China-ASEAN information networks connectivity?

Zhuang Rongwen: Under the Belt and Road Initiative, the State Internet Information Office is speeding up the China-ASEAN network information connectivity. At the China-ASEAN Cyberspace Forum held in September, 2014, China first proposed to create the China-ASEAN Information Harbor and to build a cyberspace community in joint efforts, which was highly valued and actively echoed by all the participants.

With concerted efforts made by China and ASEAN countries over the past two years, the contents of the initiative have been put in place one by one, and the bilateral cooperation in information area has been increasingly deepened. The construction of China-ASEAN Information Harbor was in full swing in April 2016. Continuous progress has been made in a few key ASEAN-oriented projects in Guangxi including the core base of China-ASEAN Information Harbor in Nanning. In addition, cross-border land-based cables connecting China and Vietnam, Laos, and Myanmar and the international submarine cable APCN2 have formed an information highway network to link China and ASEAN countries closely. Next we will deepen China-ASEAN network information connectivity through three major aspects as follows:

First, we should jointly develop the China-ASEAN Information Harbor. We should advance the connectivity in the information networks by building platforms for infrastructure construction, technological cooperation, information sharing, and cultural exchanges. We should deepen the bilateral cooperation and development by leveraging information and turn the China-ASEAN Information Harbor into an information hub of the Belt and Road to benefi t all the peoples in China and ASEAN region.

Second, we should construct the regional information highway. With the established land connectivity between China and seven ASEAN members, we can build an effective cross-border information network consisting of the south-north line from Guangxi to Singapore and the east-west one from Vietnam to Myanmar within the China-ASEAN region by taking full advantage of the existing land-based cable and optimizing cooperative modes. What’s more, adding the submarine cable will assure that a large amount of information can fl ow safely in the region.

Third, we should help ASEAN countries level up information technology. The connectivity in information networks requires improving the network infrastructure and promoting the Internet application in the region. At present, China is expediting the development of network and broadband, and has forged a few renowned information and communication manufacturers, operators and Internet enterprises. China is ready to work with ASEAN countries to enhance cooperation, narrow and even eliminate the digital gap, with a view to leveling up the regional information technology in a joint effort.

CAEXPO: A well-functioning platform for information networks

China-ASEAN Panorama: As we all know, CAEXPO serves as a platform for cooperation in multiple sectors. During the CAEXPO, the State Internet Information Office has hosted the China-ASEAN Information Harbor Forum and the China-ASEAN E-commerce Summit. What role does CAEXPO play in pushing forward the bilateral Internet cooperation? And is there any room for improvement?

Zhuang Rongwen: Internet economy has served as one of the most important parts in the economic development of all countries today. Its accelerating penetration into other economic and social sectors will facilitate the upgrading of traditional industries and social management. CAEXPO, aninternational trade gathering co-hosted by governments of China and ASEAN countries, has provided a broad platform playing a crucial role in the Internet economic development and the bilateral Internet cooperation.

First, we should strengthen policy connectivity. Based on CAEXPO, the convocation of China-ASEAN Information Harbor Forum and China-ASEAN E-Commerce Summit has provided a communicating platform for bilateral administrations for information and communication and the Internet sector to enhance mutual inter-governmental understandings and to exchange views on policies for cross-border E-commerce, telecommunication operation and Internet governance. We should reach a consensus and head towards a common goal of deepening regional pragmatic economic cooperation.

Second, we should create more cooperation opportunities. Centering on “sharing, cooperation and development opportunities” to promote the development of China-ASEAN Free Trade Area, CAEXPO is a globally win-win platform providing new opportunities for telecommunication operators, Internet companies and entity enterprises. This platform has brought increasing business ties and opportunities for cooperation. The cooperation between China’s cross-border e-commerce and ASEAN entity enterprises is a good example.

Third, we should safeguard network security. Internet economic development depends on a safe, stable and prosperous cyberspace. Based on such a cyberspace, China is ready to work with ASEAN members to increase exchanges and cooperation in Internet management policies, governance concepts, technology development and facilities construction in order to safeguard the regional cyberspace security and crack down upon cybercrimes. However, the China-ASEAN Information Harbor Forum has delivered significant progress in advancing bilateral Internet cooperation. As the discussion deepens, the Forum has generated more room for deeper cooperation in more areas. That being said, we still need to:

First, give full scope to ASEAN members’initiative. China-ASEAN Information Harbor Forum has become a regular item in CAEXPO. As such, we should intensify efforts in exploring communication sectors and priorities for discussion based on the demands of ASEAN countries. We should give full scope to ASEAN members’initiative and support some of them to take the lead in launching related researches to present the achievements in the China-ASEAN Information Harbor and carry forward the best practices of Internet cooperation.

Second, pay continuous attention to the new applications and technologies. As innovation is the key driving force for economic development, we should renew efforts in promoting the cooperation in the new generation of information technology, smart cities, “Internet plus” and innovative entrepreneurship. China should proactively expand cooperation with ASEAN members in new technological innovation and the application promotion to propel the upgrading of regional economy.

Guangxi will play a crucial role in promoting network connectivity

China-ASEAN Panorama: Guangxi is now quickening the building of China-ASEAN Information Harbor and the setting up of the China-ASEAN cross-border e-commerce headquarters. What do you think Guangxi should do to catch the timely opportunities to deepen China-ASEAN information networks connectivity?

Zhuang Rongwen: Guangxi, the permanent host place of CAEXPO, linking China and ASEAN region, has become the most important foreground connecting ASEAN and the Belt and Road. At present, as the construction of China-ASEAN Information Harbor begins, Guangxi can exert greater influence on the China-ASEAN network information connectivity.

First, we should step up efforts in building the China-ASEAN Information Harbor Base. The construction of the core base of China-ASEAN Information Harbor is now in full play. Besides advancing the supporting infrastructure construction, by further taking advantage of CAEXPO, Guangxi should improve the investment environment and offer preferential policies for leading companies related to crossborder e-commerce, logistics Internet plus applications to contract with the Base and expand Internet economic cooperation in both scope and scale between Guangxi and ASEAN countries. In the meantime, focusing on the building of China-ASEAN Information Harbor, Guangxi should strengthen cooperation with ASEAN members in information and network information connectivity to forge the Internet plus industrial ecosphere.

Second, we should proactively create the China-ASEAN Information Hub. In the face of the current status of Internet economy, by leveraging the new-generation of technology, Guangxi should gather more information data from China and ASEAN area in the information harbor and forge the China-ASEAN Information Hub through the development of the big data platforms concerning business, tourism, culture and education. At the same time, we should focus on the development of cross-border e-commerce information platform in order to invite ASEAN countries’ participations.

Third, we should intensify the information infrastructure connectivity. As the information infrastructure is the priority area of the Belt and Road construction, Guangxi can, on the one hand, proactively expand the fiber broadband and the 4G network to cover more local areas, speed up the broadband network and gradually build a leading network and Internet application, which will be presented in CAEXPO; on the other hand, Guangxi should increase cooperation in operators and encourage them to renew cooperative operation modes and jointly build regional information and communication network with ASEAN countries based on the information harbor in order to facilitate the regional economic integration.