Featured Photo: The Sino-Singapore Dialogue speakers. From left: Asso Prof Wilson Wong (黄伟豪) (panelist), Founding Director of Data Science and Policy Studies Programme, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prof Ang Hak Seng (洪合成) (moderator), Director of Centre of Excellence for Social Good, Singapore University of Social Sciences, Ms Penny Low (刘𨮒琳) (panelist), Founder of Singapore Innovation Park and former Member of Parliament, Dr Zhang Monan (张茉楠) (panelist), Principal Investigator, Institute of American and European Studies, China Centre for International Economic Exchanges, Prof Tang Zhimin (汤之敏) (panelist), Founding Dean of International College & Director of China-ASEAN Studies, Panyapiwat Institute of Management of Thailand, Prof Wang Shengkai (王胜开) (panelist), Professor in Belt and Road Economic Research Institute, Renmin University of China.

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The 14th Stratagem Group-Nanyang Technological University (NTU) Sino-Singapore Dialogue took place on August 25, 2023, as part of the Lien International Conference on Good Governance. Themed "Bridging the Great Digital Divide in the Region and Beyond: BRI for the Common Good," the dialogue brought together a distinguished panel of speakers from China, Hong Kong, Thailand, and Singapore.

The event, held at the Raffles City Convention Centre, drew approximately 300 attendees, including government officials, academics, and industry professionals from across the region and beyond.

Prof. Ang Hak Seng, Director of the Centre of Excellence for Social Good at the Singapore University of Social Sciences, moderated the discussion. He highlighted the critical role of digital technologies in driving future economic growth and the potential for these technologies to exacerbate existing wealth disparities.

The panelists and moderator concurred that the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), with its emphasis on mutually beneficial collaboration, is uniquely positioned to facilitate the development of transnational digital infrastructure and e-commerce platforms. This, in turn, could help level the playing field for countries on both sides of the digital divide.

In recognition of the BRI's 10th anniversary, the dialogue focused on the concept of a "Digital-BRI." Participants agreed that a Digital-BRI could play a pivotal role in enhancing digital policy coordination, promoting multilateralism, and leveraging digital technologies for the common good of partner countries. Key considerations for a successful Digital-BRI include adopting multilateral rules and international best practices in project development, operation, procurement, tendering, and bidding, alongside appropriate technology transfer and capacity building.