Xiao Yaqing, minister of industry and information technology, delivered speech at the forum. (PHOTO: VCG)

By Staff Reporters

The BRICS Forum on Development of the Industrial Internet and Digital Manufacturing was held from May 23 to 24 in Xiamen, east China's Fujian province, to promote cooperation in the fields of industrial Internet and digital transformation of manufacturing, as well as green development.

As the global industrial and supply chains have not fully recovered from the impact of COVID-19, industrial development encounters many uncertainties.

BRICS countries should seize the opportunity presented by industrial Internet development, strengthen the innovative applications of the industrial Internet, and accelerate the digital transformations and upgrading of enterprises, to inject new impetus into BRICS countries and the global economy, said Chinese State Councilor Wang Yong at the forum.

China is willing to work with other BRICS partners to promote the development of the industrial Internet and digital manufacturing, and jointly achieve growth that is higher quality, more resilient and sustainable, said Wang.

In China, digital transformation leads the way to industrial development with support of the world's largest optical-fiber and mobile networks. Meanwhile, China's industrial Internet sector's output has exceeded one trillion RMB (about 150.2 billion USD) with a host of new business models emerging, said Xiao Yaqing, minister of industry and information technology (MIIT).

Xiao said that MIIT will work with industrial authorities of BRICS countries to establish an industrial cooperation network, promote free flow of funds, goods, personnel, technology and services, and form stable industrial and supply chains.

An initiative on cooperation among BRICS countries in the manufacturing industry's digital transformation was launched on May 23, where consensus was achieved on issues such as the development of digital infrastructure, the digital transformation of manufacturing, and the inclusive growth of small and medium-sized enterprises.