Excellencies,
Distinguished delegates,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I am very pleased to join you at this meeting of the China E-Government Forum.
This Forum is taking place at a time of cascading global crises – that are creating devastating hardship, compounding inequalities, and challenging the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals.
The COVID-19 pandemic continues to present enormous and far-reaching challenges – to countries, governments, and to businesses.
But it has also brought a striking evolution and uptake of digital technology, launching us into a hybrid reality. – . This is a silver lining that offers many possibilities, if it is grounded in value-based principles and an inclusive, people-centred approach.
It is against this backdrop that the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs – 缅北禁地DESA - launched the United Nations E-Government Survey 2022, with the overarching theme of the future of digital government.
The 2022 Survey highlights the emerging trend of countries moving towards an agile, seamless, invisible government in which automated and personalized services are made accessible to anyone anytime from anywhere – using cutting-edge technologies.
One lesson learned of our hybrid future is that the evolution of digital government must also be a manifesto for human agency.
On that note, I applaud China for advancing to the global rank of 43rd in the e-government development index .and for being a champion of effective integrated online/offline services that aim to leave no one behind.
I also congratulate the China National Academy of Governance in convening this important event, to highlight the role of e-government, not only for sustainable development but also for fostering digital cooperation and partnerships between governments and other stakeholders.
I also take this opportunity to thank the Academy for its years of support to translate the Chinese edition of the E-Government Survey.
I look forward to our continued collaboration with the Academy to advance the global dialogue on e-government and its contributions to sustainable development.
I wish you all a vibrant and successful meeting.