China & Thailand to Build Digital Ecosystem for Smart Cities & Cross-Border Trade

China and Thailand are joining forces to create a robust digital ecosystem aimed at developing smart cities and enhancing cross-border trade, with Chinese technology playing a pivotal role across Southeast Asia. The Digital Economy Promotion Agency of Thailand, in collaboration with cities like Shenzhen and Hangzhou, as well as Guangxi and Yunnan provinces, is spearheading this initiative, as reported by SCMP dated 17 September 2024.

The collaboration focuses on building digital infrastructure such as submarine cables and regional laser centers, supporting Thailand’s digital transformation, and aligning with China’s Belt and Road Initiative, according to Supakorn Siddhichai, Executive Vice-President of the agency. This partnership was highlighted at the Belt and Road Summit in Hong Kong in late September.

Despite these efforts, challenges remain, particularly regarding the secure flow of data, a key issue for digital economies. Supakorn acknowledged that while Thailand’s digital infrastructure continues to improve, ensuring data privacy and security is a critical obstacle: “You don’t always know if the data is reaching its intended destination.”

China’s regulatory measures, such as the 14 new rules issued by the Cyberspace Administration of China in March, underline the need for data to undergo stringent security reviews before being sent overseas. Thailand’s involvement in global digital trade frameworks like the Digital Economy Partnership Agreement (DEPA) is still under evaluation, though it is expected to play an essential role in facilitating smooth cross-border trade across Southeast Asia.

This partnership is not new. Since 2017, the Shenzhen government has been working with Thailand’s Ministry of Digital Economy and Society to enhance national broadband infrastructure and smart city development, further reinforcing Thailand’s digital evolution. However, the journey to fully optimizing these advancements in smart cities and trade hinges on resolving critical data flow challenges.

China’s cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative is aimed at strengthening technological advancements, particularly in 5G communications, smart city construction, and cross-border e-commerce. Thailand’s collaboration with Chinese giants Huawei, Alibaba, and Tencent signifies a commitment to driving digital growth in the region. As part of their ongoing partnership, Thailand’s Digital Economy Promotion Agency visited Zhejiang Dahua Technology in Hangzhou earlier this month to discuss innovations ahead of the Smart City Expo World Congress.

- Video Advertisement -

Related Post

Network News: How Digital Twins and Analytics Are Shaping the Future of Connectivity And 5G

Not entirely out of sight, but almost always out of mind, cell towers quietly form the backbone of modern communication, powering everything from texts and phone calls to TikTok videos. Some topping 200 feet, they can stand tall like sentinels along roads or poke up from the roofs of high buildings. Their thistle-like tops bristle […]

Get Real: Powerful 3D Software Brings The Future of Infrastructure to Life in Just a Few Clicks

 By Sean O’Neill Greg Demchak stood before an enormous LED screen in a dark hotel conference room. With a game controller and a keyboard, he moved his audience through a digital model of Barcelona. The glowing screen showed a bird’s-eye view of the Spanish city’s famed “manzanas,” the octagonal block of buildings designed by […]

Cambodia Unveils Export Service Center to Strengthen International Trade and Empower Local Businesses

In a pivotal move to enhance Cambodia’s global trade footprint, the Ministry of Commerce officially launched the Export Service Center (ESC) on 5 November 2024. This new initiative, dedicated to advancing Cambodian exports, aims to position local products in global markets and equip traders with essential skills and resources to compete internationally. The inauguration ceremony, […]

China Boosts Cambodia’s Digital Transformation with High-Speed Mobile Network Expansion

Cambodia’s digital transformation accelerates with China’s commitment to achieving 100% high-speed internet coverage in urban areas and 70% in rural regions by 2025. Confirmed by HE Wang Winpin, Chinese Ambassador to Cambodia, at the Cambodia-China Digital Economic Cooperation Forum on 4 November 2024, this initiative sees significant Chinese investment in enhancing Cambodia’s telecommunications infrastructure. HE […]

Cambodia’s Major Steps in Wastewater Management as 122 Factories Commit to Automated Liquid Waste Control

A total of 122 Cambodian factories and enterprises have agreed to install automated monitoring systems for liquid waste control, aligning with national environmental regulations. As of October 2024, five factories have fully installed and activated these self-monitoring systems, while 10 others are currently under contract for installation, according to an announcement by the Ministry of […]

Blyncsy Publishes Map of U.S. Interstate Highways Showing Roadway Assets to Enhance Safety, Maintenance, and Accelerate the Digital Infrastructure Movement Nationally

Blyncsy empowers state DOTs with the ability to monitor and compare—in near real-time—the status of any major highway in the continental U.S. with their existing data for more informed decision-making. PHILADELPHIA — 2024 AASHTO Annual Meeting & Expo — October 29, 2024 — Blyncsy, a Bentley Systems Inc. (Nasdaq: BSY) company, today announced it published a comprehensive public […]