In 2021, Chinese President Xi Jinping proposed the Global Development Initiative (GDI) at the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly. This significant initiative aims to address issues of unbalanced and inadequate development, accelerate the implementation of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development by the international community, and promote global sustainable development. It has since become a widely supported global public good. At present, the rapid development of a new generation of information technologies, represented by artificial intelligence (AI) and big data, is injecting new vitality into global development. Meanwhile, the rise of unilateralism and protectionism, along with the uneven distribution of global technological dividends and the widening digital divide, are undermining global social equity and inclusive development. In response, Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) and the Chinese People’s Institute of Foreign Affairs (CPIFA) co-hosted the Global Development Initiative Digital Cooperation Forum 2025, where “GDI Digital Inclusion Action Initiative” was proposed, calling on all parties to take effective actions, engage in open cooperation, and pursue harmonious coexistence, so as to deepen and substantiate digital cooperation under the GDI and promote digital development that delivers benefits to all.

I. Accelerating Inclusive Digital Infrastructure Development. Coordinate the development of network, computing power, and application infrastructures, and promote the rational global distribution of digital infrastructure. Strengthen the digital and intelligent transformation of traditional infrastructure, promote the open sharing of and equitable access to digital infrastructure, and accelerate the expansion of network coverage and the advancement of digitalization. Initiate the research and development of open and interoperable digital technology standards, and comprehensively enhance the connectivity of digital infrastructure.

II. Promoting Green Development and Integrated Innovation of Digital and Real Economies. Strengthen technological leadership, advance scientific and technological innovation, and foster the development of strategic emerging and future industries. Accelerate the deep integration of digital technologies with the real economy, improve the service system for digital transformation in manufacturing, and drive digital transformation across all industries and domains. Assist small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in enhancing their competitiveness and integrating into the digital economy ecosystem. Leverage the role of green transformation as a driving force for industrial development, promote green and low-carbon industrial growth, and contribute to achieving global sustainable development.

III. Promoting Fair and Inclusive AI Applications. Advance the empowerment of various fields through AI, including education, healthcare, elderly care, and employment, foster new industries, new business forms, and new models, and promote the implementation of the “AI+” international cooperation initiative. Support the development of open-source AI communities and accelerate the establishment of a globally accessible open-source technology system and community ecosystem. Uphold principles of fairness and non-discrimination, enhance data authenticity and accuracy, and safeguard personal privacy and data security. Support equal participation of all nations in the process of intelligent development, strengthen communication and coordination on development strategies, governance rules, and technical standards, and intensify international cooperation in computing power, data, talent, and other areas. Assist countries in the Global South in seizing AI development opportunities and strengthening AI capacity building, bridge the global AI divide, so that the benefits of AI can reach the entire world.

IV. Promoting Digital Technology-driven Rural Development. Improve rural network infrastructure, support the application of digital technologies in rural areas, and enhance the intelligence of agricultural production, the networking of operations, and the digitization of the entire industrial chain. Foster new industries and business models in rural areas, promote the high-quality development of rural e-commerce, and increase job opportunities and income for farmers through the use of digital technologies. Improve rural information services, increase the supply of high-quality resources in rural education, healthcare, and culture, advance digital governance in rural areas, boost integrated urban-rural development, and bridge the digital divide between urban and rural areas.

V. Enhancing Digital Literacy and Skills for All Citizens. Enrich the supply of high-quality digital resources and promote open sharing of digital assets. Improve the system for cultivating digital talents, enrich the content of digital education and training resources, carry out universally-beneficial digital skills training programs targeted at workers, the elderly, persons with disabilities, and other groups, and enhance the public's ability to use digital technologies in a safe and responsible manner. Stimulate the vitality of digital innovation and enhance the willingness and capacity of SMEs to embrace digital development. Disseminate cybersecurity knowledge, increase public awareness and skills in cybersecurity, and build solid cybersecurity safeguards.

VI. Deepening Digital Services to Meet the People’s Convenience. Actively promote the development of a universally-beneficial and accessible digital society, and advance the universal accessibility of digital public services. Encourage countries to advance the building of digital governments, and provide efficient and user-friendly digital public services to citizens. Promote the widespread adoption of intelligent digital lifestyles, create smart and convenient living circles, and drive innovative applications of digital technologies in scenarios such as education, healthcare, cultural tourism, and energy. Advocate for prioritizing the needs of vulnerable groups, accelerate the development of information accessibility, ensure that digital services are accessible, user-friendly and people-oriented, enable the elderly, persons with disabilities, and other groups to enjoy digital life, and promote digital development that delivers benefits to all.

VII. Promoting International Cooperation on Digital Inclusion. Advocate the establishment of a global think tank alliance for digital inclusion to conduct research on major issues, and release research reports, policy recommendations, and best practices. Encourage digital platform enterprises to fulfill their social responsibilities, participate in global digital public welfare projects and provide technical assistance, capacity building, and experience sharing. Call on universities, think tanks, enterprises, and other stakeholders from various countries to engage in joint research, focus on topics such as the digital divide, digital inclusion assessment, and the social impact of emerging technologies, and promote policy dialogue and knowledge sharing.