The Economist: WTO MC12 restarts the digital economy and becomes the core engine of global economic recovery and growth

World Trade Organization No 12 The first ministerial conference is scheduled for this year 6 It will be held in Geneva in the middle of July ,6 month 11 Japan , Well known international media 《 The economist 》 Published a special article on the official official account , Signed by Ouyang Rihui, vice president of China Internet Economy Research Institute of Central University of Finance and economics 《WTO MC12 restart Digital economy has become the core engine of global economic recovery and growth 》, In this paper, the topic of this meeting is analyzed , It is predicted that the digital economy will become the core engine of global economic recovery and growth in the post epidemic era .

The following is the full text ：

Since the outbreak , The development environment of the global digital economy has been profoundly adjusted , Digital economy is becoming a global factor resource 、 Reshaping the structure of the global economy 、 The key force to change the global competition pattern . In this context , The world trade organization （WTO） The first 12 The second ministerial conference （MC12） It's due this year 6 It will be held in Geneva in the middle of July , The global economic recovery and growth trend in the post epidemic era is bound to become the focus of this WTO The most important topic of the Ministerial Conference .

One 、 The digital economy promotes the high-quality recovery of the global economy in the post epidemic era

Digital economy is a new economic form that develops with the development and application of digital technology . from 1996 American scholar Tang · Tapscott put forward the concept of digital economy , The connotation and extension of the word "digital economy" are constantly enriched . With the development of digital economy , More and more intertwined with the real economy or traditional economy , It is not easy to define or describe the digital economy clearly . At present , The definition of digital economy widely recognized by all walks of life is 2016 year G20 Adopted at the Hangzhou summit 《 G20 digital economy development and cooperation initiative 》 Proposed in , That is, digital economy refers to the use of digital knowledge and information as key production factors 、 Take modern information network as an important carrier 、 A series of economic activities with the effective use of information and communication technology as an important driving force for efficiency improvement and economic structure optimization .

The digital economy has become a driving force for global economic growth 、 An important driving force for promoting international exchanges and cooperation . Countries all over the world have seen the development trend of digital economy , Actively introduce strategies to promote the development of digital economy in China . In the middle of the epidemic , Against the background of the continuous downward trend of the global economy , The digital economy has become a driving force for global economic growth , The main driving force for economic recovery .《 White paper on the global digital economy 》 Show ,2020 The scale of global digital economy reached 32.6 Trillions of dollars , Year-on-year growth 3%, Higher than in the same period in the world GDP Nominal growth 5.8 percentage ; Digital economy as a percentage of GDP （GDP） The specific gravity is determined by 2018 Year of 40.3% Growth to 2020 Year of 43.7%, Promoted 3.4 percentage . Digital economy to the original concept of global governance 、 The rules 、 Order presents new challenges , It also brings a series of new problems to be solved , At present, there is an urgent need for a corresponding regulatory system and governance environment , To guide the standardized development of digital economy .

How to make the digital economy contribute to the global economic growth in the post epidemic era , I have the following points ：

First of all ,WTO And other multilateral mechanisms are still important platforms for global digital economic governance . Global digital economic governance requires multiple channels ,G20、《 Digital economy partnership agreement 》（DEPA） And so on are places to discuss important topics of digital economy ,2000 Signed in the world since 183 Multilateral agreements around the digital economy have been gradually formed among the trade agreements , It still has a great influence on the rules of the global digital economy . Relying on bilateral and multilateral cooperation mechanisms , Carry out international coordination of digital economy standards and cooperation in digital economy governance , To promote inclusiveness 、 Universality 、 diversity 、 Innovative digital governance .

second , Give play to the leading role of digital technology , To jointly meet the new challenges of digital transformation in the post epidemic era . Promote the further development of blockchain and other digital technologies , Construction safety 、 An efficient and inclusive new financial system . Drive the transformation and upgrading of traditional industries with digital technology , Accelerate the transformation of the whole society's lifestyle and social governance mode .

Third , Strengthen cooperation in the fields of digital infrastructure and data element flow . Deeply implement the development strategy of digital economy , The digital infrastructure needs to be continuously improved , Activate the development potential of data elements , Global connectivity can promote the coordinated development of the digital economy .

Fourth , Digital currency is the focus of global digital economy competition . Digital currency is a currency using digital technology , Including legal digital currency 、 Virtual currency and digital currency of trusted institutions . According to the data disclosed by the White House ,2021 year 11 month , The total market value of digital assets issued by non-state in the United States is 3 Trillions of dollars , And in the 2016 year 11 At the beginning of the month, the figure was only about 140 Billion dollars . future , Digital currency is likely to reconstruct the financial model and monetary system . It's a real challenge , It's also an opportunity for the future .

In the global economy “ pollen ” In a big environment , The digital economy is still booming , Glow with unprecedented vitality , Become one of the main driving forces of economic growth .

Two 、MC12 What it will bring to the global economy

According to the WTO Official news , The WTO will 6 month 12 solstice 15 The first ministerial conference in more than four years was held in Geneva on the th , That is the first. 12 the WTO Ministerial meeting , abbreviation MC12. It is WTO The highest decision-making authority , It is usually held every two years .MC12 Originally scheduled for 2020 year 6 It was held in Nursultan, the capital of Kazakhstan , Later, it was delayed due to the epidemic , After that, it was postponed again due to the spread of the Omicron strain . The main topics discussed at the meeting included ： Epidemic response 、 Fisheries 、 Food safety 、 E-commerce tariff ban 、 WTO reform 、 Environment, etc .

stay MC12 In the original schedule , Although the issue of intellectual property exemption of the new crown vaccine has always been the key issue WTO Response measures for epidemic situation , however MC12 Prospects 、 Involving intellectual property 、WTO Reform and the crisis of food shortage and its damage to the global supply chain should not be ignored . that ,MC12 What it will bring to the global economy ？ I think there are several points ：

First of all , Prove once again the importance of innovation and technology in promoting economic growth . Rising global food and energy prices 、 The post epidemic era of debt dilemma and geopolitics , The world economy is changing to digitalization and informatization . some time , The leading power of global economic development is mainly reflected in the industrial chain 、 Innovative aspects of the supply chain , To take the lead , We must adopt an innovation driven approach .

second , Promote governments of all countries to introduce policies to support the transition to a digital economy . Let more and more countries adopt “ New industrial policy ”, Promote economic growth by supporting innovation and technological upgrading .

Third , Let international cooperation be further strengthened .MC12 Through international cooperation, countries can enhance their common understanding of digital policies , It plays an important role in promoting the development of digital economy and pursuing more effective technological innovation , And to prevent trade tensions and outbreak counterattack when the global economy is restarted , So as to create 、 Investment and cross-border business prosperity lay a more solid foundation .

Deputy director general of the world trade organization Anabel GONZLEZ Previously, it was publicly stated that , Artificial intelligence 、 The Internet of things 、3D Digital economic systems such as printing and blockchain are changing the production of goods and services 、 transaction 、 Mode of delivery and consumption . A recent WTO study also found that , Digital technology to 2030 Years can help up to 34% The growth of trade . however , The world bank 《2016 World Development Report ： Digital dividend 》 call , The rapid spread of digital technology around the world is driving economic growth , It also increases development opportunities in many ways ; But the benefits of technological change have not been evenly distributed to global workers . I think ,MC12 Our goal is to bring the global economy out of the quagmire of stagnation , We should use digital economy to bridge the gap of traditional economic globalization .

3、 ... and 、 The development and governance of the global digital economy need the wisdom of everyone

Promote the development of global digital economy 、 Solve global governance problems , It not only needs the cooperation between the governments of sovereign countries , More participation is needed 、 Multi governance . China advocates building peace 、 Security 、 to open up 、 cooperation 、 An orderly community of destiny in cyberspace , In the era of digital economy, more emphasis will be placed on multiple subjects than ever before , Decentralized distributed governance brought about by blockchain technology provides innovative ideas for traditional centralized governance . Only to reflect the wishes and interests of multiple subjects , Follow the rules of global digital economy governance , To narrow the international digital divide , So as to establish a new digital world and a new civilization , Benefit all countries in the world .

The vigorous development of digital economy will promote human civilization to a new and higher form . Digital civilization is based on big data 、 Cloud computing 、 Artificial intelligence 、 The Internet of things 、 Blockchain and other new generation intelligent information and communication technologies , A form of civilization characterized by high technology .

stay MC12 About to restart 、 The post epidemic era when the global economy began to recover , Countries will increase financial 、 logistics 、 Innovation of cooperation mode in e-commerce and other fields , Actively participate in international cooperation . This time, WTO Ministerial meeting , There should be a firm determination to lead innovation , The courage to change and break through , And the warmth of technology for the good . With the joint efforts of multiple subjects, the global digital economy will burst out with greater energy , Leading the sustained and healthy development of the global economy , Push human society into the era of digital civilization .