China and six other countries along the Belt and Road launched an initiative to strengthen cooperation on digital economy during the ongoing Fourth World Internet Conference in Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province December 3.

The initiative includes deeper collaboration to improve broadband access and quality, digital transformation and e-commerce cooperation as well as to enable more support for Internet start-ups and innovation.

It also aims to promote transparent digital economy policies and establish multi-layer communication mechanism to create a more open, orderly and safer cyberspace.

Digital economy has become an important drive for global economic growth. It can help improve productivity, foster new markets and industries as well as promote sustainable growth, according to the initiative.

"The initiative will become a guide for us to push forward cutting-edge technological cooperation, optimize innovation environment and gather innovative resources," said Lin Nianxiu, deputy head of China's National Development and Reform Commission.

Bounsaleumsay Khennavong, Vice Minister of Laos' Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications said the initiative offered all member states new opportunities for closer cooperation and would lower the development gap in digital economy between participating countries.

Majed Almesmar, Deputy Director General of the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of the United Arab Emirates said the proposal could help their digital reform and transformation as well as deal with challenges in the new area of big data and cloud computing.

The Fourth World Internet Conference opened December 3 and is themed on "Developing digital economy for openness and shared benefits -- building a community of common future in cyberspace."

(Xinhua News Agency December 3, 2017)