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.

Against such a backdrop, "China is committed to leveraging its strengths to promote an open, inclusive and secure digital future for all," he added.

Broader regional efforts include the newly upgraded China-ASEAN FTA 3.0, which prioritizes digital and green economy collaboration.

Digital payment services providers like China UnionPay are accelerating financial inclusion in Belt and Road Initiative economies, said Dong Junfeng, chairman of China UnionPay and UnionPay International.

"Digital wallet usage in the Asia-Pacific region accounts for 70 percent of the global total, growing at over 20 percent year-on-year," Dong said.

Attendees from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations shared their stories about China's digital platforms.

"Digital payment services are impressive in China," said Senjaya Mulia, founder and CEO of the ASEAN Youth Organization based in Indonesia.

"The applications work seamlessly and securely — this is the type of people-to-people connectivity that strengthens regional ties."

China has been ASEAN's top trading partner since 2009, with two-way trade reaching 6.99 trillion yuan ($962 billion) last year.

Mohd Faiz Abdullah, chairman of the Institute of Strategic and International Studies in Malaysia, said ASEAN aims to strengthen its digital capabilities and further boost integrated development by 2030.

"ASEAN economies are looking to China for a major role in this digital transformation," he said, adding that China has made great contributions to the region's AI skills development and digital capacity-building initiatives.