The World Internet of Things Convention 2024, hosted by the international organization World Internet of Things Convention, was successfully held in Beijing on November 3, 2024. The United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres sent the written message to the annual event.

The first global white paper regarding advanced digital economy - White Paper on the Intelligently Interconnected Digital Economy was unveiled at the convention, which plays an exemplary role in developing the intelligently and fully connected digital economy. The annual conference consisted of Opening Ceremony, Plenary Session, Ambassador forum, World New Economic Forum, etc.

At the opening session, the United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres gave a special written message to the annual event. The speakers who delivered opening remarks included Mr. He Xuming, Chairman of WIOTC Executive Committee, H.E. Mr. Yu Hongjun, former Vice Minister of International Department of the CPC, H.E. Mr. Kao Kim Hourn, Secretary-General of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), H.E. Mr. Ahmed Mustafa Fahmy, Head of League of Arab States (LAS) Beijing Mission, H.E. Mr. Siniša Beran, Ambassador of Bosnia and Herzegovina to China, Mr. Sung Hwan Cho, President of International Organization for Standardization (ISO), Mr. Jo Cops, President of International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), Mr. Seizo Onoe, Director of Telecommunication Standard Bureau of International Telecommunication Union (ITU), Mr. Li Zhengmao, Chairman of Board of Directors of WBBA, Mr. Thomas M. Coughlin, CEO & President of Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), Mr. Wen Ku, President of China Communications Standards Association & Former Director-General of Communications of PRC’s Ministry of Information Technology. Mr. Ni Jianzhong, President of China Mobile Communication Association, gave welcome remarks on behalf of the WIOTC Organizing Committee as cohost. WIOTC Secretary General Mr. He Qiang presented a keynote report titled “Towards a New Future for Digital Economy: An Intelligently Interconnected New World”. Mr. Zhang Xueji, Member of the European Academy of Sciences, gave an academician report called “Intelligent Sensors based Life IoT—-Endless Frontiers of Sciences”. Haier Group representative made a keynote speech at the session. Government representatives and diplomatic envoys from nearly 60 countries, leaders of international organizations, World IoT Top 500 enterprises and demonstration companies of IoT digital economy joined the annual convention on site and virtually. The number of participants and viewers registered nearly ten million, with onsite participants amounting to two thousand.

In his written address, the UN Secretary-General António Guterres said: "Digital technology has transformed every aspect of our lives. Real-time data sharing, IoT applications, information networking and artificial intelligence are enabling the development of smart grids, smart homes and smart cities." "Unleashing the potential of a new digital economy depends on a fully connected world." he mentioned. In closing, he urged, "Let's ensure that these rapidly evolving technologies serve all people, equally."

In his speech, Mr. He Xuming said that the world digital economy driven by internet of things and intelligent technologies are witnessing an annual increase of 20 percent at a high speed. This year, the amount of global IoT connections grew by over 23 percent, expected to exceed 25 billion. According to the estimates, the investment in IoT related infrastructures was more than 60 percent of world total. China ranks first in the world in terms of IoT construction and the innovative development of digital economy. A good case in point is that China is promised to establish over 4.3 million 5G base stations carrying the internet of things this year. The amount of IoT connections is projected to exceed 3 billion. The scale of digital economy in China is possible to surpass 70 trillion RBM, an increase of more than 20 percent. The number of Chinese enterprises capable of developing the intelligently interconnected digital economy reaches almost one million - they are becoming new quality productive forces that make China a powerhouse of innovation.

In his keynote report, Mr. He Qiang pointed out that the internet of things is a network of smart world as a carrier of new globalized economy integrating the new generation of information technology, digital economy and real economy. The communications infrastructure transmission internet carrying IoT digital economy will move towards 5G, 6G, starlink network, quantum transmission and photon transmission. At the same time, the connection pattern is going from interconnection to intelligent and smart interconnections.

Various International Organizations Joining the Event

Addressing the convention, H.E. Mr. Kao Kim Hourn, Secretary-General of Association of Southeast Asian Nations （ASEAN）observed, “Your theme ‘Towards a New Future for Digital Economy: An Intelligently Interconnected New World’ resonates deeply as it reflects our collective ambition to lead the way in Industry 4.0. With the rapid adoption of the Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence (AI), and big data analytics, we are witnessing a profound transformation across industries. These technologies not only drive productivity but also pave the way for new, innovative business models, helping us advance toward economic prosperity and sustainable development.”

When speaking at the convention, H.E. Mr. Ahmed Mustafa Fahmy, Head of League of Arab States (LAS) Beijing Mission said, “we actively encourage member states to increase the input of technological research and development while driving the upgrading of industry and innovative advancement and enhancing cooperation on digital economy and technology around the world.

In his speech, Mr. Sung Hwan Cho, President of International Organization for Standardization (ISO) mentioned, “In this digital age, our world is more interconnected than ever. Data-driven technology is improving efficiency, accuracy and value across sectors – transforming industries, economies and societies globally. It is crucial that this progress actively supports the UN Sustainable Development Goals and bridges the digital divide, ensuring everyone can fully enjoy the benefits.”

Through video message, Mr. Jo Cops, President of International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) envisioned, “This is a future where technology drives economic growth and improves lives. And effective communication between interconnected systems, information resources, and services is for the benefit of people.”

Speaking at the convention, Mr. Seizo Onoe, Director of Telecommunication Standard Bureau of International Telecommunication Union (ITU) said, “IoT is making a key contribution to digital transformation, across every industry and public-sector body. IoT has been our standardization agenda since 2005.”

Through video speech, Mr. Thomas M. Coughlin, CEO & President of Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) mentioned, “A thriving exchange of global, leading-edge viewpoints on technology and innovation is imperative as we continue to pursue IEEE’s mission of advancing technology for humanity. We are committed to scientific and technical discovery and innovation that improves our standards of living and helps us care for each other and for our planet.” “I applaud the organizer’s efforts to build a platform for international cooperation in science, technology, and innovation. I wish you a successful convention”, he said.

Mr. Li Zhengmao, Chairman of Board of Directors of WBBA suggested in his speech that digital economy has become an important engine of global economic growth. The development change from fully connected model to intelligently interconnected pattern is conducive to the industrial digital transformation and new type of industrialization. 

Mr. Ni Jianzhong, President of China Mobile Communication Association believed that from perception China to digital China, and from fully connected model to intelligently interconnected pattern, these two major changes enable us to experience one revolution and another in the process of human economic and social development.”

Issuing the White Paper on the Intelligently Interconnected Digital Economy

The World Internet of Things Convention unveiled the White Paper on the Intelligently Interconnected Digital Economy in Beijing on November 3, 2024. The White Paper explains the direction and theoretical foundation of innovative development of the intelligently interconnected digital economy supported by the internet of things and includes the cognition and definition of the intelligently interconnected digital economy, the model of advanced digital economy, the building of the intelligently interconnected global market of digital economy as well as the formulation of standards of such kind of economy and the path of its sustainable development.

Announcing the Initiative to shape global model or demonstration enterprises

At this session, WIOTC issued an official announcement to shape a batch of model or demonstration enterprises characterized by the intelligently interconnected digital economy. Haier Group and China Telecom become the first model enterprises.

The first excellent cases in the fully intelligent and connected digital economy was announced, followed by the release ceremony of World IoT Awards 2024. In 2024, we also held the World IoT Top 500 Summit and unveiled the World IoT Ranking List Top 500.

Haier Group’s representative Mr. Zhang Hua mentioned that as a global company of providing service in solutions to the digital transition towards a better life, Haier is committed to creating user demands, emerging as a service provider seeing steady development in its global market. Based upon the trends of the world, the needs of users, and demands of enterprises, Haier helps boost the high-quality and sustainable development of economy while keeping up with the times. Thanks to our efforts, Haier has been ranking first in terms of large-sized home appliances retail for 15 consecutive years, and has created the first brand of smart home scene (Sanyiniao) and developed the whole-scene solutions of cabinet-appliance integration in smart home.

Ambassador Fourm Gathers Ambassadors to Share Development and Investment Opportunities

At the Ambassador Forum, H.E. Mr. Dumitru Braghis, Ambassador of Moldova to China, H.E. Mr. Arthur Williams, Ambassador of Jamaica to China, H.E. Mr. Fazeel Najeeb, Ambassador of Maldives to China, Ms. Sabita Nakarmi, Counsellor （Charge’de Affaires） of Embassy of Nepal to China made a promotional speech of introducing their country’s development situation in relevant fields. 

World New Economic Forum Presents New Insights on Economy 

At the World Economic Forum, Mr. Gong Ke, Former President of WFEO and Acting President of Chinese Institute of New Generation Artificial Intelligence Development Strategies (CINGAI), Mr. Xing Lei, Director-General of World Green Design Organization, Mr. Fang Shurong, Deputy General Manager of E-Surfing IoT, China Telecom and Mr. Wang Xiong, Deputy General Manager of Cethik Group Co.,Ltd. made wonderful speeches at the forum.

At the roundtable dialogue, Mr. Gong Ke, Mr. Gong Ke, Former President of WFEO and Acting President of Chinese Institute of New Generation Artificial Intelligence Development Strategies (CINGAI), Mr. Wang Weizhong, Director of Data Research Office at the Information Technology Research Center, China Electronics Standardization Institute, Mr. Yan Deli, Deputy Secretary General of Tencent Institute; Senior Expert of Digital Economy, Mr. Yu Hao, Vice President of Lenovo Holdings, Mr. Lin Chenzhen, Expert of Carbon Peak and Neutrality Committee, China Electric Power Promotion Council, Mr. Liu Shengli, Director of Data and AI Technology, IBM Greater China joined the roundtable discussion by relating to such topics as “Thoughts and advice on digital economy supported by the Internet of Things; The ideas and cases sharing regarding the transformation from traditional economy to digital economy; The exploration of methods on the upgrading of digital economy towards a more advanced pattern”.

Based upon and in line with the spirits of the Global Digital Cooperation and Sustainable Development Goals and the Notice on Advancing the “Fully Intelligent and Connected” Development of Mobile Internet of Things, the annual convention put forward the thought of internet of things representing the fourth revolution and encapsulates the theoretical foundation of wisdom revolution, the intelligently interconnected digital economy model and the solution of building the intelligently interconnected global market. It aims to call for efforts to work together to build the global market of such digital economy, support the building of a community of shared future for mankind and help as we can to contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals.