Tech leaders from all over the world gathered in Hong Kong for the inaugural World Internet Conference Asia Pacific Summit on Monday, calling for stronger international partnerships in areas such as artificial intelligence, digital infrastructure and cybersecurity.
The event brought in around 1,000 participants from governments, industries and technology organisations.
In an opening-ceremony address, Hudaygulyyev Shihmyradowich, who chairs Turkmenistan’s state agency for communications and cybersecurity, said it's important to establish inclusive global cybersecurity standards amid the rapid advancement in artificial intelligence.
“Artificial intelligence is a key factor for advancing the digital economy, and Turkmenistan is ready to actively work with all interested partners within the framework of international cooperation to ensure that the use of AI is accessible to all and brings real benefits to our citizens and global community,” he said.
For his part, John Hoffman, chief executive of GSMA – a global trade association representing mobile network operators – said a community platform has been established to help firms explore AI use cases and set industry standards.
“The group is currently made up of 12 industry players, and we’re grateful to have the support of these Chinese stakeholders, China Mobile, China Telecom and China Unicom, who have been pioneers in this space,” he said.
“And as a global organisation representing the mobile ecosystem, we know how valuable these collaborations are and I can’t wait to see the innovation unlocked by the community.”
Hoffman also highlighted the need for a structured framework to guide the responsible use of AI, saying 20 organisations, including two from China, have adopted GSMA’s framework.
Meanwhile, the chairman of Ghana Dot Com Nii Quaynor, often known as the “father of the Internet in Africa”, stressed the importance of creating a digital world that benefits everyone.
Quaynor, who established some of Africa’s first internet connections in the early 1990s, noted that while the continent’s internet user base is growing rapidly, it still faces barriers such as a fragile infrastructure.
He warned of three divides that are holding the continent back in realising its AI potential.
“First, technical capacities and educational preparedness for adoption needs to improve to avoid division.
“Secondly, the cost of equipment and infrastructure for training AI imposes an economic divide on participation on the supply side of AI.
“Lastly, the electrical power to run these machines limits the ability to participate beyond user level, not to mention the need for bandwidth to even load parameters of models,” he said.
Quaynor said he hopes to explore cooperation opportunities through the summit and get his region more involved in the global tech supply chain.
Global tech leaders call for stronger collaboration
2025-04-14 HKT 16:02
