By Zhu Jingning, Lyu Weiyi
With the spring breeze blowing and everything thriving, the Fourth United Nations World Data Forum is scheduled to take place from Apr 24 to 27 in Hangzhou.
The National Bureau of Statistics of China and the Zhejiang provincial government say the event will include discussions on how data can be better used in an effort to achieve the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals.
Sustainable development
empowered by data
Entitled "Towards Data That Empowers Our World", the forum will be held both online and offline this year.
Six plenary meetings and 72 parallel sessions will take place during the forum, covering topics related to such fields as maximizing the values of data, innovation and cooperation on data, forming a better data ecosystem and enhancing data credibility.
Five exhibition areas will be launched at the same time themed with Global Vision, China's Intelligent Statistics, Digital Zhejiang, Hangzhou Practice and Data Industry. During the Forum, there will be meetings of the High-level Panel on the UN Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Seminar of Regional Centers on the UN Global Platform for Big Data.
Kang Yi, head of the National Bureau of Statistics, said during a news conference in Beijing on Apr 13, that the forum will provide a platform for exchanges among global data providers and users, and will also help in the implementation of the United Nations' 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
More than 1,600 representatives from international organizations, governments, universities, research institutions, enterprises and non-governmental organizations from over 130 countries and regions will attend the forum, among whom over 900 people are international representatives. Citing the situation of previous forums, the number of online participants is expected to exceed 7,000 this year.
Statistical frontier issues
to be discussed
The UN World Data Forum is aimed at spurring data innovation, nurturing partnerships, mobilizing high-level political and financial support for data, and building a pathway to better data for sustainable development. Since January 2017, every UN World Data Forum has resulted in the release of an outcome document to chart the progress of discussions around data and statistics and express the ambitions of the stakeholder community.
As the host country, China's plenary meeting will focus on the exploration and practice of digital transformation, data interpretation of people's livelihood and development, accurate measurement of sustainable development beyond GDP. Representatives of enterprises, experts and scholars from international organizations such as the United Nations, the World Bank and the International Statistical Association, as well as SF Express Technology, Peking University and Renmin University of China will give specifically invited reports or comments.
The meeting will cover the digital transformation of the government and the enterprises facilitated by big data, sharing China's specific and effective practices. On the basis of traditional GDP accounting, China has carried out a study entitled "Beyond GDP" to build a comprehensive statistical system covering environment, resources and welfare.
During the forum, the UN will launch a revised Cape Town Global Action Plan (CTGAP) with a view to providing references for a better implementation of the Global Development Initiative and the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.
Other topics will be presented in the form of special events such as "exhibitions", "learning LABS" and "group discussions". All topics follow global trends and reflect the latest developments and thinking in the field of data and statistics. For example, how to use data to benefit all users, how to improve data management, and how to use data to serve future development.
Smart city creates infinite possibilities
Advanced in experience and conditions of hosting large-scale activities, Hangzhou, capital of Zhejiang province with beautiful natural landscape and profound cultural heritages, is aiming to be leading in the digital economy nationwide.
During the press conference, Xu Wenguang, executive vice-governor of Zhejiang, said the forum will also help deliver the voice of China in terms of data and statistics and showcase Zhejiang's achievements.
As the cradle of e-commerce in China, Hangzhou is building itself into a smart digital city. It not only gives birth to a large number of leading digital enterprises such as Alibaba and NetEase, but also houses Zhejiang Laboratory, which is incorporated into the national laboratory system.
In Dec 2020, the China Regional Center of the United Nations Global Platform for Big Data was officially inaugurated in Hangzhou, bringing more innovative technologies and scientific methods to the development and application of big data.
Meanwhile, Hangzhou is also vigorously promoting the "industrial brain + future factory" model to comprehensively enhance the level of intelligent manufacturing. The R&D intensity of core industries of digital economy, major scientific and technological research projects of the digital economy, and net inflow rate of IT talents in Hangzhou have taken the lead in China for years.
"Seeing is believing. Hangzhou sincerely invites you to take a walk by the West Lake, enjoy a cup of Longjing tea, and fully experience the vitality and energy of the digital economy development of Zhejiang and Hangzhou," Xu added.