Gilbert Van Kerckhove, rotating chairman of the UWEE Group and the honorary dean of the Beijing March Digital Economy Technology Research Institute. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

China plays an important role in shaping the global digital landscape and is leveraging its Digital China initiative to spur worldwide development, said a long-time observer of China's economic transformation, highlighting the country's contribution to the global digital economy.

"China's focus on applying high-tech, especially internet technology and artificial intelligence, is currently world-leading." said Gilbert Van Kerckhove, rotating chairman of the UWEE Group and the honorary dean of the Beijing March Digital Economy Technology Research Institute.

As a Belgian national who has lived in China for 45 years, Gilbert said he has personally witnessed the country's remarkable economic transformation since the reform and opening-up. Particularly in the areas of telecommunications and the internet, China has made impressive progress to become a pioneer, he said.

He made the remarks at the recent World Internet Conference Wuzhen Summit, where he told the media that he was particularly interested in the latest progress and innovative ideas in strengthening cybersecurity.

"AI governance has become a major global challenge," he said, adding that effective management of AI requires continuous innovation and technological advancement, a path he called the only viable way forward.

Looking ahead, Gilbert highlighted the guiding principle of "deeply advancing the construction of Digital China" in the upcoming 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-30), which he said represents a new quality productive force.

"This involves building an open, shared, and secure unified national data market and promoting the deep integration of the real and digital economies, including the implementation of the industrial Internet innovation and development project," he added.