WGS 2019: China Welcomes Scientific Collaboration with Arab Countries – His Excellency Wang Zhigang

Dubai-UAE: 11 February, 2019 – “China’s economy is now transitioning from high-speed growth to high-quality growth,” said His Excellency Wang Zhigang, Special Envoy of President Xi Jinping and Chinese Minister of Science and Technology.

During a session titled ‘The Rise of the Dragon: China’s Success in Leading the World of Technology’ at the seventh edition of the World Government Summit (WGS 2019) in Dubai, he recounted China’s success story and revealed what lies in store for the future of science and technology in the world’s second-largest economy.

His Excellency Wang Zhigang spoke about the role the digital economy will play in China’s next chapter of high-quality growth, touching upon the theme of technology convergence. Citing examples of China’s success, he reiterated the need for heightened responsibility and self-regulation by technology companies, as governments provide an enabling ecosystem that promotes digital innovation. He also emphasized the importance of updating educational programs to reflect a more modern, innovation-led approach.

“China has maintained its investment into the research and development (R&D) of new technology, which accounts for 20 percent of global R&D expenditure,” added His Excellency Wang Zhigang as he spoke about his country’s commitment to leading technology innovation worldwide. Furthermore, he highlighted the potential of digital innovation to transform manufacturing through harnessing new technologies, such as automation, robotics and 3D printing. He also explored the topic of inclusivity through innovations in the Internet of Things (IoT).

Finally, he invited Arab countries to forge scientific collaborations under the Belt and Road Initiative.

China has assumed a powerful role on the world stage, influencing global policy decisions and harnessing technology to achieve economic success. The nation played a significant role in realizing the UN millennium development goals (MDGs) of reducing extreme poverty rates by half. As it witnesses a slowdown in economic activity, especially in the manufacturing sector, China is poised to launch the next wave of growth.

The three-day World Government Summit 2019 runs until February 12 at Madinat Jumeirah in Dubai. The landmark event has convened more than 4,000 participants from 140 countries, including heads of state and governments, as well as top-tier representatives of 30 international organizations.