2026 World Internet Conference Asia-Pacific Summit Strengthens Global Digital Cooperation
HONG KONG SAR – On April 14, 2026, the two-day 2026 World Internet Conference Asia-Pacific Summit concluded successfully in Hong Kong. The event, themed “Digital and Intelligent Empowerment for Innovative Development — Jointly Building a Community with a Shared Future in Cyberspace,” attracted around 1,000 participants, including government officials, international organization representatives, and leaders from major internet enterprises across more than 50 countries and regions.
Hong Kong’s Role in Global Digital Dialogue
This year marks the second consecutive occasion that Hong Kong has hosted this significant international conference. John Lee, Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, emphasized that the successful hosting of the summit showcases Hong Kong’s unique advantages under the “One Country, Two Systems” framework. He noted that the HKSAR Government is accelerating innovation and technology development, with artificial intelligence as a central focus. Hong Kong is recognized as one of the leading economies globally in terms of AI readiness and is committed to utilizing AI responsibly and inclusively.
Zhuang Rongwen, Chairman of the World Internet Conference and Director of the Cyberspace Administration of China, highlighted the summit’s objective to align with the rapid trends of digitalization and intelligent transformation. He stated that the conference aims to build consensus and strengthen collaboration across various sectors, leveraging new achievements in the digital and intelligent domains to contribute to a brighter digital future for the Asia-Pacific region.
Keynote Insights and Contributions
On the afternoon of April 13, the main forum of the summit took place alongside the Distinguished Contributors Ceremony. Keynote speeches were delivered by Wang Jingtao, Deputy Director of the Cyberspace Administration of China, and Francis Gurry, Vice Chairman of the World Internet Conference and former Director General of the World Intellectual Property Organization. Ren Xianliang, Secretary-General of the World Internet Conference, also participated in the event.
Wang Jingtao addressed the global wave of intelligent transformation, emphasizing the importance of building consensus and enhancing cooperation to ensure that digital technologies benefit humanity. He proposed four key measures:
- Uphold openness and cooperation to expand the digital economy.
- Promote inclusiveness and shared benefits to bridge digital and intelligence divides.
- Strengthen coordinated governance to establish a fair and equitable cyberspace order.
- Reinforce security foundations to safeguard cyberspace safety.
Francis Gurry remarked that digital and intelligent empowerment enables individuals, enterprises, and institutions to adapt to the evolving digital landscape, seize opportunities, and share in the benefits of development. He underscored the shared responsibilities of all stakeholders in this transformative process.
Honoring Contributions to Digital Innovation
The Distinguished Contributors Ceremony recognized individuals and enterprises that have significantly advanced digital and intelligent technologies, acknowledging both their technological achievements and their societal impact. Paul Chan, Financial Secretary of the HKSAR Government, and Sun Dong, Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, also delivered speeches at the event. Notable attendees included Wu Jianping, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering; Nii Quaynor, Chairman of Ghana Dot Com and recipient of the 2024 Distinguished Contribution Award; and Kilnam Chon, Honorary Professor at KAIST, also a 2024 award recipient.
The summit featured various thematic sections, including “Tribute to the Connectors of the World,” “Tribute to Technological Innovators,” “Tribute to Digital Pioneers — Hong Kong Dialogue,” and “Tribute to Technology for Good.” Participants engaged in discussions about building a community with a shared future in cyberspace and explored future directions for artificial intelligence.
Launch of Awards and Research Initiatives
During the event, the launch of the 2026 World Internet Conference Leading Science and Technology Awards was announced, along with a global call for case studies aimed at fostering a community with a shared future in cyberspace. The ceremony for the 2026 Distinguished Contribution Awards was also held.
On April 14, six sub-forums were conducted, focusing on themes such as intelligent agent innovation, digital finance, AI safety governance, smart livelihoods, digital health, and the dissemination of classical texts. Additionally, ten think tanks involved in the World Internet Conference Think Tank Cooperation Program presented a series of research outcomes at the Smart Livelihoods and Digital Finance Forum.
The 2026 World Internet Conference Asia-Pacific Summit was organized by the World Internet Conference, hosted by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, and co-organized by the Innovation, Technology and Industry Bureau of the HKSAR Government.
Source: www.zawya.com
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Published on 2026-04-16 08:55:00 • By the Editorial Desk
