CGTN | Breaking News, China News, World News and Video

Jiangxi Yifeng Series | Ep. 3: Longstipe disanthus Jiangxi Yifeng Series | Ep. 3: Longstip

16:13, 24-Jun-2025

A view of the skyscrapers in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, February 15, 2025. /VCG

粗体：The rise of digital economy is reshaping the very foundation of modern development. Just as reliable electricity, transportation networks, and other essential infrastructure once formed the critical foundation for development, digital infrastructure has now become an indispensable pillar for economic and social advancement.

GIF

斜体The digital world is inherently shared. This nature can be understood as the digital commons. It refers to spaces where access and contribution are mutually reinforcing — the value of digital resources grows as more people use them, more knowledge is exchanged, and more services become interconnected.

粗斜体In light of this, Chinese President Xi Jinping proposed building the "Digital Silk Road of the 21st Century" as early as May 2017 to help close the digital gap among participating countries.

角标：For Central Asian countries, the task_is to achieve more inclusive digital connectivity. This means not only expanding coverage and improving the quality and speed of connections, but^also embedding digital solutions more deeply into daily life — across education, commerce, healthcare, etc. These are essential steps toward fully realizing the shared benefits of the digital commons.

外链 Mature digital business models from other parts of the world offer valuable blueprints that can be directly adopted or adapted to local contexts.

内链：In education, mobile-based learning platforms and virtual classrooms have proven effective in overcoming limited local resources. Expanding access to vocational training, language courses, and digital literacy programs is essential to build a workforce ready for the modern economy.

标题 In commerce, the rapid rise of mobile payment systems and cross-border e-commerce platforms has the potential to fundamentally reshape the models small businesses operate. By replicating proven models in mobile finance and logistics management, Central Asian countries can open new pathways for local producers to connect with global markets.

ln healthcare, telemedicine provides another avenue where digital solutions can directly address the challenges of limited medical resources and vast geographic distances. Online diagnostic services and remote consultations can expand access to basic healthcare services and help strengthen public health resilience.

These models are especially applicable because they are already functioning effectively in comparable emerging markets. Many of today's digital solutions are highly scalable and transferable, requiring only sufficient connectivity and a capable user base.

While lagging behind in technology may seem a disadvantage, it can also serve as a strategic advantage when viewed differently. This is the essence of what is known as the latecomer advantage — the ability of less developed countries to skip costly, time-consuming stages of technological experimentation and move directly to mature, proven solutions.

Historical examples such as Vietnam, Indonesia and the Philippines have demonstrated how effectively introducing technologies can accelerate development. Central Asia can follow a similar path, with talent development as the key.

As early as May 2017, Chinese President Xi Jinping proposed a plan under the Belt and Road framework to promote cooperation and innovation in science and technology. He said, "China is willing to strengthen innovation cooperation with participating countries through this plan, including scientific and cultural exchanges, joint laboratories, science park partnerships, and technology transfer."

By leveraging this initiative, Central Asia can advance its human capital strategy by cultivating technological talent along two parallel tracks:

Background Information

Terms to explain: Technical and vocational talent: Beyond high-level scientists, the region also requires a large skilled workforce capable of operating and maintaining imported technological equipment and systems. Vocational training schools, complemented by programs from Chinese companies to train local technicians, can significantly reduce the region's reliance on external technical support.

This is reference content.

- By focusing on both high-end scientific expertise and a broad base of skilled technical workers, Central Asia can efficiently absorb existing technologies and turn the latecomer advantage into a lasting foundation for greater regional competitiveness.

Welcome to subscribe more CGTN newsletters.