China's digital landscape helping APAC

China's booming digital economy is playing a key role in spurring the integrated development of the Asia-Pacific region, thanks to the country's prowess in high-tech fields such as 5G, artificial intelligence and cross-border payment systems, officials and experts said at the ongoing Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2025.

Zhao Fengtao, vice-chairman of China International Development Cooperation Agency, said with data being an increasingly critical production factor for economic modernization, China has been ramping up support for other developing countries in the digital sector.

However, challenges remain in achieving full digital connectivity. "We are confronting challenges of uneven digital infrastructure coverage, lack of talent, barriers in cross-border data flows, and issues of technological monopolies and digital hegemony," Zhao said during the forum on Wednesday.