The 6th Digital China Summit took place in the city of Fuzhou in East China's Fujian province on April 27, 2023. The event is co-hosted by the Cyberspace Administration of China, the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Science and Technology, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council and the Fujian Provincial People's Government.

Themed "Accelerating Digital China Construction and Promoting Chinese Modernization", the summit of this year will focus on the latest achievements and best practices of digital China, and share development experiences, according to the Organizing Committee.

The program of the summit includes the opening ceremony, the main forum and 20 sub-forums, highlighting on various topics such as digital silk road, data resources, digital government and smart energy. The summit will also host the Digital China Achievement Exhibition, the Digital Product Expo, the Digital China Innovation Contest, and a series of special events such as the Cloud Ecosystem Conference and the Artificial Intelligence Ecosystem Conference, aiming at further promoting the collaborative innovation and common development of the eco-chain in key industries.

The Digital China Summit has been successfully held in Fuzhou for five consecutive years. Over the past five sessions, the Summit has released nearly 100 major national policies and key reports, invited almost 1,500 exhibitors, held nearly 150 forums and seminars, and witnessed more than 1,300 experts and scholars delivering keynote speeches. At the same time, the Summit has organized almost 100 negotiations, facilitating the contract signing and the implementation of 1,976 digital economy projects with a total investment of nearly RMB 1.4 trillion.

NASDAQ-listed AGBA Group Holding Limited "AGBA" announced that it has entered into a sale and purchase agreement, to acquire Sony Life Financial Advisers Pte Ltd, a duly licensed financial adviser and insurance broker in Singapore. AGBA, together with its subsidiary, the "AGBA Group", is a leading one-stop financial supermarket headquartered in Hong Kong.

Trusted by over 400,000 individual and corporate customers, the AGBA Group offers the broadest set of financial services and healthcare products in the Greater Bay Area in China. The AGBA Group has a unique collection of complementary businesses that blends market-leading businesses with emerging businesses models. It serves a large captive customer base, while at the same time unlocking growth through the introduction of innovative new wealth and health products and services through a variety of B2B and B2C distribution channels.

The latest acquisition marks a key milestone for AGBA; it is lucrative to its insurance and fintech businesses and expands access to key markets in Asia. While AGBA's primary focus is in the Greater Bay Area in China, Singapore was selected for expansion due to the island nation's position and reputation as a global center for innovation, business and finance. Ranked 10th place for average income by country, Singapore has is known to have one of the highest saving rates in the world.

Singapore is also home to one of the largest and fastest growing family office and wealth management centers in the world. AGBA believes its advanced technology and infrastructure in wealth management will offer the industry compelling solution sets in the long run.

Yoshiki Moriyama Managing Director and CEO, Sony Life Financial Advisers Pte Ltd said, "We are confident AGBA has the capabilities, resources and commitment to take SLFA to new heights. We will work together with AGBA to obtain regulatory and other approvals. As we do so, SLFA will continue to deliver the high standard of service that its customers have come to expect. When such approvals are given, Sony Life and AGBA are both committed to ensure an orderly and seamless transition. This agreement is good news for all stakeholders. We are committed to support AGBA and to ensure that SLFA is well positioned to succeed."

Wing-Fai Ng, Group President, AGBA Group Holding Limited said that beyond the Greater Bay area, Southeast Asia plays a key role in the development of financial service markets.

"Singapore, in particular, holds magnificent potential for this, given its strategic geographical location and status as a global centre for innovation and finance," Ng said. "As a company, AGBA will continue to leverage our existing infrastructure, business partners, and our large user base to optimise customer experience through technology." Ng added that AGBA will further strengthen its competitive advantages in procuring and financing new clients and partners.

"The acquisition of Sony Financial Advisers is a win-win solution for both companies as our businesses are similar and our products are complementary," Ng said. "Our expectation is for the latest acquisition of Sony Life Financial Advisers in Singapore to bring forth new prospects and promising business opportunities — especially in the Southeast Asian region."

China International Capital Corporation successfully held the China-Japan Finance and Economic Forum in Tokyo on 24th March, 2023. Hundreds of investors across financial areas have attended the forum.

In the opening speech, Dr CHU Gang, Chief Operating Officer of CICC, presented the business strength of CICC and highlighted the influence of China-Japan cooperation in the capital market. "Japan is not only the third largest economy, but also the second largest developed economy, with numerous leading Japanese institutions and companies operating worldwide. Both China and Japan have large capital markets full of dynamic financial players, and the role of CICC Japan is to bridge the two markets and support institutions and corporates to identify opportunities for mutual benefits and facilitate transactions on behalf of our clients."

In another speech, Mr Eiji TANAKA, CEO of CICC Japan, said that Japanese investors expect to have an increased understanding of the Chinese market. And he believes the Company can assist clients in building a greater perception and well managing the assets with CICC's strong business expertise and broad networks. At the forum, external experts and CICC representatives shared profound observations and insightful views on the economy, markets and various financial trends. These bring value to institutional and retail participants' investment portfolios and business strategies.

The forum focused on the key issues and opportunities that China, Japan, and Asia facing, covering areas such as macroeconomics, investment strategies, industry trends, and business dynamics, engaging with more than 30 speakers from China and Japan's policy, business, and academic fields through in-depth presentations and discussions on regional and global economic policies, industry and financial market trends.

The topics covered "Outlook for China-Japan Economic and Finance Co-operation", "Outlook for China-Japan Economic and Finance Co-operation", "2023 Post-COVID Asian Economic Outlook", "Implications from NPC & CPPCC 2023", "Aging Population and Financial Planning", "Global Supply Chain Restructuring and its Implication to Asia", "China's New Economy and the Future", "Carbon Neutrality". At the FICC parallel forum, analysts from CICC delivered keynote speeches on China Bond Market Outlook 2023 and Investment Strategy and RMB FX Outlook 2023. Meanwhile, top-notch specialists from both home and abroad participated in panel discussions to share and exchange views centering on topics such as ESG Investment Opportunities in Asia and Cross-border Securities Investment Outlook. CICC and industry experts created a unique opportunity for all the attendees to have face-to-face communications.

At the forum, CICC Fixed Income, Commodities and Currency Department (FICC) officially launched its FICC APP in Japan's iOS App store to serve Japanese users. As an online portal of market insights and in-depth research views, CICC FICC APP now has over 20,000 registered users worldwide.

The forum also aimed to expand CICC's business influence in Japan and support the Company in seizing the accelerating cross-border capital flow between China and Japan. By growing its business activities in Japan, CICC will continue strengthening its dialogues with regional public sectors, enterprises, financial institutions and research institutions, promoting international capital market cooperation, and facilitating cross-border capital flows.

China International Capital Corporation Limited (CICC, 601995.SH, 3908.HK), as the first joint-venture investment bank in China, provides comprehensive one-stop investment banking services for domestic and overseas companies, institutions and individuals. Since its inception in 1995, CICC has adhered to the core values of "by the people and for the nation, professionalism and diligence, innovation and entrepreneurship, client first, and integrity", and is committed to making itself a first-class international investment bank based in China and a critical player in the future financial system. CICC is qualified for both domestic and overseas securities business operations, having set up a broad range of international business network. Headquartered in Beijing, CICC has set up a number of branch companies and subsidiaries in the Chinese Mainland, owned more than 200 securities branches in 30 provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions in China, and established offices in a series of international financial hubs including Hong Kong SAR, New York, London, Singapore, San Francisco, Frankfurt, Tokyo etc., which enables CICC to provide one-stop domestic, overseas, and cross-border financial services. CICC has a comprehensive and balanced business structure including investment banking, equities, FICC, asset management, private equity investment, wealth management and research.

The world today is far from being tranquil. Facing a choice of the times between solidarity and division and cooperation and confrontation, the international community expects Asia to play a leading role. ASEAN countries are successively hosting three important multilateral meetings including the ASEAN Summit and Leaders' Meetings on East Asia Cooperation, the G20 Summit, and APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting. Focusing on the "Asian moment," the Global Times will invite several foreign scholars to discuss how Asian countries can contribute "Asian wisdom" to the world amid unprecedented changes unseen in a century.

Herman Tiu Laurel, founder of a Manila-based think tank Philippine BRICS Strategic Studies

While the "Shift from West to East" has been the talk of the world the past decade, now the "Asian moment" is the catchword. The geoeconomic shift has become a geostrategic shift as Asia has become a global meeting place for the world to converge, talk and hopefully solve mankind's urgent and primordial crisis of the times. Today, Asia comprises 45 percent of the global economy and is projected to exceed 50 percent of global output by 2030. This ideal can be achieved only if the global environment of peace and stability can be ensured and any breakdown in the dialogue among diverging international perspectives and powers are averted. Asia's privileged place today emanated from China's powerful but peaceful rise that has uplifted the region, ASEAN, in particular, has generated good will with its message of a "win-win" world and its vision of a "Community of shared Future for Mankind" incarnated in the Belt and Road Initiative and multilateral platforms, such as the BRICS, RCEP, SCO in a multipolar world.

Swaran Singh, a visiting professor at the University of British Columbia (Vancouver) and professor for diplomacy and disarmament, Jawaharlal Nehru University (New Delhi)

These four summits in Asia represent that historic recognition of Asian wisdom. Asia having since emerged as the locomotive of global growth and development explains why G7 had happily co-opted six Asian nations or 12 nations of Global South in its novel G20 summits from 2008. This also explains centrality of China and India to climate change and other deliberations of global governance. Of world top five economies today, China, Japan and India respectively occupy second, third and fifth positions. Among these India remains the fastest growing economy with promising potential. Asia together accounts for 40 percent of global manufacturing and East Asia alone accounts for over 75 percent of world's semiconductors production - a technology that has become the benchmark of technological progression.

Veronika S. Saraswati, a research fellow of the China Study Unit Convener Centre for Strategic and International Studies Indonesia

Economic certainty and security stability are the two main factors needed for successful development. These conditions should not only be met for domestic governance, but also global governance. Development and security, as the two main driving wheels of governance, are two wings of one body. The two factors are very prominent to maintain stability. China's economic revival is derived from a strong non-monopolistic mentality. China's foreign policy of building harmonious relations first focuses on neighboring countries, then secondly developing countries, then finally developed countries. Building harmonious relations based on mutual aid with neighbors is an Asian cultural power, and this is a core of strength on combatting an international economic recession and the current global uncertainty.

China should take actively a more important role in multilateral organizations in leading the world overcoming the great depression. More stable Asian economy and political condition is a strong basis as well as a strategy in facing the divisive efforts.

Ken Hammond, professor of East Asian and global history at New Mexico State University

Profound changes are taking place in the world today. This epoch in modern history began to change with the revolutions and struggles for national liberation which led to the creation of socialist countries and the independence of colonial subject peoples throughout the course of the 20th century.

China and other countries across much of Asia are facing brighter prospects for the future. We see in the world today not just an Asian Moment, but the beginning of a new era, in which the countries of Asia, with China at this point playing a leading role, return to the place of prominence which they held for so many centuries prior to the brief age of Western imperialist ascendancy. The Asian Moment is one of hope and promise for a better world, not just for the peoples of China and Asia, but for ordinary working people around the planet.

Ei Sun Oh, a senior fellow at the Singapore Institute of International Affairs

The concentration of these high-level meetings in this part of the world so soon after the easing of the coronavirus pandemic is perhaps a rather apt one. Asia, especially Southeast Asia, remains the vibrant part of the world that has continued to register impressive growth even amidst the economic doldrums brought about by the pandemic.

Some have dubbed these events to be the debut of the "Asian moment," or Asia's coming-out ceremony on a global scale, and quipped that the "Asian century" has finally arrived. Well, taken together, these summits could be viewed as more Asian major players stepping up to the world stage. Indonesia, in particular, has been very assiduous and conspicuous in holding the G20 summit.

The Asian moment is not and must not just be a laurel of glory to be rested upon, instead it must be a duty to be diligently hoisted and fulfilled by all in Asia. Only then would peace and prosperity be achieved in common.

Koh King Kee, president of Center for New Inclusive Asia, a non-government Malaysian think tank

In a world that has been devastated by the COVID-19 pandemic and increasingly divided by sharp geopolitical tensions, the three multilateral meetings successively hosted by ASEAN countries in November carry special significance. Some pundits say the world has now entered the "Asian moment" as global leaders converge in ASEAN for the first face-to-face meeting since the outbreak of COVID-19 in January 2020.

The messages from the themes of these summits are loud and clear: The world must remain open, connected and together as it faces unprecedented turbulence and uncertainties since World War II.

ASEAN does not wish to take side amidst big power rivalry. With its strategic position, geographically and geopolitically, and its increasing economic weight as a bloc, ASEAN is well placed to act as a bridge in a world fragmented by intense geopolitical competition. It is the bridge to a more open and connected world in the Asian moment !