Mr. Dai Dajiang, Deputy Director General of CICETE: 

Mr. Lei Weihua, Deputy Secretary of the CPC Longhua District Committee, District Mayor of the Shenzhen Longhua District People's Government: 

Excellencies and Distinguished Guests. 

A very good morning to all. 

It is a privilege to welcome you to the 2026 Asia Pacific Digital Intelligence Economy Sustainable Development Innovation Week. As a global technology hub and one of the 11 National SDG Demo Zones, Shenzhen is the perfect place to explore how we can harness the power of technology for the greater good of all. 

We are standing at the dawn of a new era. Just 2 weeks ago, I was in Shanghai for the 2026 World AI Conference, and I saw and experienced first-hand the kind of frontier, cutting-edge digital innovations that are transforming our world.  

From a development perspective, these new technologies present incredible opportunities to address some of the world’s most urgent challenges, and they arrive at a deeply critical moment.  

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) – our global blueprint to protect people and planet by the year 2030 – are on the brink. Progress to date has been inadequate, and with less than four years remaining before the deadline, small, slow steps are no longer enough. 

We need a major leap forward, a new economic model powered by digital technologies, which is capable of accelerating and exponentially scaling SDG impact, to drive that progress. 

Indeed, when we weave AI, advanced computing, and big data into the fabric of our societies, we can completely reimagine what is possible. We can create smart energy grids that minimize wind and PV curtailment. We can build predictive models that protect vulnerable communities from climate disasters. And we can re-design economic systems that generate prosperity, while actively restoring our natural world. 

At the same time, we must remain vigilant. While the potential of digital transformation is undeniable, it must be harnessed responsibly and inclusively.  

For UNDP, the value of the digital intelligence economy is not measured by technologies themselves, but by who these ultimately serve to benefit. 

Today, the rewards of digital intelligence remain concentrated in too few hands. If we do not actively design these technologies to be inclusive, they will inevitably widen existing divisions, and marginalized communities will be left further behind by this rapid wave of technological advancement. 

Building accessible, everyday digital networks and systems is absolutely essential to close this gap. We must guarantee that everyone, especially youth, boys and girls, regardless of their background and/or their nationalities, can participate safely, fairly, and with dignity in this new digital era. 

Achieving this bold vision requires a fundamental shift in how we work together. Technology alone cannot end poverty, reduce inequalities, or stop climate change.  

Solving these global challenges is not something any one government, business, or organization can do alone. 

We need policymakers to establish agile and forward-looking governance. We need businesses to innovate responsibly. We need researchers to continue expanding the frontiers of knowledge. And we must ensure that the perspectives, talents and aspirations of the Global South help shape the future of the digital intelligence economy – not only participate in it. 

Together with CICETE and our many partners, UNDP is committed to harnessing digital intelligence that accelerates sustainable development, strengthens resilience, and expands opportunities for all. 

Let us seize the opportunity presented by this Innovation Week to build the lasting partnerships, trust and shared ambition needed to ensure that digital intelligence becomes a force for sustainable development – one that empowers people, protects our planet, and leaves no one behind. 

With that, I want to thank the World Innovative Cities Cooperation Organization and Longhua district government for convening this important gathering and I wish you all a successful and inspiring week. 

Thank you.