Technological Civilization and Co construction of Happiness

On December 7, 2024, The International Dialogue on High-quality Development of the" Belt and Road" was successfully held in Beijing. With the theme of "The Dialogue on Technological Civilization and Co construction of Happiness", we discussed with the scientific and technological community, the cultural and educational community and all sectors of society how to jointly create a new future for the sustainable development of the "Belt and Road" cities in the new era of digital economic system development.

This dialogue is chaired by An Xuehui, a professor at Tsinghua University and Vice Dean of the Institute of International Engineering Project Management at Tsinghua University. Guests for the dialogue included Liu Weidong, Counsellor of the State Council, Director of the Bureau of International Cooperation of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Secretary General of the Alliance of National and International Science Organizations for the Belt and Road Regions (ANSO),, Jin Yi, Special Representative of the Russian Saint Petersburg State University of Economics in China and ASEAN countries, Wang Jian, a founding expert of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law and Chairman of the Expert Committee of the APEC E-Commerce Business Alliance, Muhammad Hanif, Chief Representative of the National Bank of Pakistan in China and President of China Affairs, Barzegar Bafrouei Mohadeseh, a well-known sinologist and foreign professor of the University of International Business and Economics.

Professor An Xuehui from Tsinghua University mentioned during the forum dialogue that the Silk Road Dialogue has been developing for 11 years. In the first year of the second golden decade of the "the Belt and Road" initiative, the "Dialogue on Science and Technology Civilization and Co building Happiness" was held to promote cultural, scientific, technological and economic cooperation among countries along the Belt and Road. By discussing the new era of digital technology, promoting urban construction and industrial upgrading, and enhancing people's sense of happiness. Professor An emphasized that technology is not only digital progress, but also a force that changes the world. The Silk Road Dialogue International Reception Hall and other platforms gather global wisdom, providing enterprises with opportunities for deep connectivity and becoming a new starting point for global cooperation. He called on all sectors of society to participate in it, jointly promote the development of global industries, inject new impetus, work together to build a happy city, achieve high-quality development of the "Belt and Road", let people around the world share the benefits of digital technology, and create a better future.‌
 

Liu Weidong, General Secretary of the Alliance of National and International Science Organizations for the Belt and Road Regions (ANSO), pointed out in the dialogue that scientific and technological innovation is the most important way for mankind to solve most of the problems, and scientific and technological innovation requires cooperation between everyone, so scientific and technological cooperation is one of the important topics of the "Belt and Road". The important connection between technology and happiness is that technology changes lives, creates more working conditions, and generates more wealth, allowing everyone to enjoy happiness. The dialogue will usher in a new era, and the Silk Road dialogue will pay more attention to technology topics, allowing technology to better seek happiness for everyone. In the construction of the "Belt and Road", the dialogue between countries or between enterprises lacks an intermediate level, so it is very important for the Silk Road Dialogue to put cities into the perspective of dialogue. He mentioned that the Silk Road Dialogue platform can play a very good role and hopes that scientists, policy makers, and entrepreneurs can strengthen communication. Only through mutual communication can cities around the world learn from each other, grow and develop together, and make everyone's life happier and better. This "Dialogue on Technological Civilization and Co building Happiness" links technology and happiness, and the development of technology should be directed towards making people happy. Technological innovation is for people's happiness. From this perspective, I think Ms. Cui Yiting's proposal of the happiness industry and the concept of Silk Road International Happiness Week is a completely new direction of thinking. Wishing that the Silk Road Dialogue can play a leading role in the direction of technological development, and that technology can truly make us all happy.

During the forum dialogue, President Oleg Zolotokrylin, the Special Representative of Saint Petersburg State University of Economics in China and ASEAN countries, emphasized the importance of combining education and technology, and how to promote the popularization of happiness and the inheritance of culture through this combination. He pointed out that education and technology are the key to happiness, especially in the context of globalization. The combination of the two can promote cultural exchange, improve the quality of education, and cultivate technological talents. At the same time, he expressed that as a Russian educator, he deeply felt the important role played by the Silk Road Dialogue in promoting international dialogue, exchange and cooperation. And expressed firm support for the Silk Road Dialogue in its academic and economic fields, believing that the Silk Road Dialogue will continue to inject strong impetus into the prosperity of cultural and economic trade and people's happy lives.

Wang Jian, Chairman of the APEC E-commerce Business Alliance Expert Committee and Professor at the University of International Business and Economics, stated at the forum that technological civilization is closely linked to happiness. The digital age has arrived, which has changed our way of work and life, enhanced consumer experience and service richness, thereby enhancing people's sense of happiness. As the space of human ecosystem, the cultural diversity and technological development of cities complement each other, and digital innovation is helping with smart city management and enhancing residents' experience. At the same time, he also emphasized that the Silk Road Dialogue International Reception Hall has promoted international cultural exchanges and collision of ideas, providing new opportunities for technological cooperation and urban development, and will continue to promote innovation and cooperation in multiple fields such as trade, services, and culture.

Muhammad Hanif, Chief Representative of the State Bank of Pakistan in China, mentioned during the forum dialogue that financial technology is an important engine for economic development, and through digital financial services, global market opportunities can be brought to every citizen. Under the "Belt and Road" initiative, the global financial ecology is becoming inclusive and innovative, promoting high-quality development of the global economy and society. Fintech is crucial in urban development, promoting cross-border investment and trade, providing capital support for urban economies, driving digital transformation of enterprises, serving the public, and promoting comprehensive prosperity. In the future, financial technology will deeply integrate the happiness industry with urban development, drive the intelligence of financial services, empower industries such as education and healthcare, and enhance people's sense of happiness. At the same time, it will optimize resource allocation, promote urban economic transformation and upgrading, build a new ecology of smart cities, and achieve harmonious coexistence between people and cities. The Silk Road Dialogue International Reception Platform is promoting international cooperation and building a sense of happiness in cities. We look forward to it becoming a messenger to promote global happiness.‌‌

Renowned sinologist and foreign professor at the University of International Business and Economics, Bai Mei, mentioned during the forum dialogue that culture is the soul of a nation and the deep driving force behind social happiness. Poetry, philosophy, and Chinese Confucianism in Persian culture all reflect the pursuit of harmony and happiness. Bai Mei emphasized that cultural sharing and dialogue are key bridges for building happiness, and multiculturalism is the cornerstone of global happiness. She specifically mentioned that as natural messengers of cultural dissemination and important builders of social happiness, women's voices have become increasingly powerful in historical civilization. Through the Silk Road Dialogue platform, cultural exchange can move from ideas to practice, promoting the integration of multiple fields such as education and technology, and providing solutions for social happiness. The construction of a happy city requires equal emphasis on culture and technology. The Silk Road Dialogue International Reception Hall will become a new model for international cultural cooperation and urban civilization construction, jointly promoting the global new future of building a happy city.

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Talking about the new era of digital technology·Building a new future for urban development. The purpose of this forum dialogue is to promote the construction of a new future for urban development through discussions on the new era of digital technology, thereby driving the integration of Chinese and foreign industries and building a community with a shared future for mankind. In the future, the Silk Road Dialogue will continue to gather global wisdom, promote the integrated development of technology, culture and industry with all sectors of society, help global industrial transformation and urban construction, achieve high-quality development of the "Belt and Road", and create a prosperous and harmonious world.‌‌