BEIJING: Chinese President Xi Jinping on Saturday called for enhanced international exchange and cooperation in the development of the big data industry. Xi made the remarks in a congratulatory letter to the China International Big Data Industry Expo 2018, which opened Saturday in Guiyang, capital city of southwest China’s Guizhou Province. The rapid development of new-generation information technologies such as Internet, big data, and artificial intelligence has brought significant and far-reaching impact on social and economic development, state governance, social management, and people’s life in all countries, Xi said. He said countries need to increase communication and cooperation to seize the opportunities in the big data sector, promote its healthy development and handle challenges such as data security and cyberspace governance. China attaches great importance to the development of big data, Xi said. With the vision of innovative, coordinated, green, and open development that is for everyone, China is implementing a national big data strategy centered on building the country’s strength in cyberspace and nurturing a digital China and smart society, which will aid the transition of the country’s economy from high-speed growth to high-quality development, Xi said. The Chinese president said he expects expo attendees to exchange views and pool wisdom in order to promote the big data sector’s innovative development to benefit all people and facilitate the building of a community with a shared future for humanity. Big data expo: An international expo on big data opened Saturday in southwest China’s Guizhou Province, attracting over 40,000 participants from nearly 30 countries. Focusing on the latest technological innovation and achievements, the four-day China International Big Data Industry Expo 2018 in the provincial capital of Guiyang will be attended by 388 exhibitors, according to the organizing committee. The expo will include a summit on e-commerce innovation and development, eight panel discussions and more than 50 forums. Covering some 60,000 square meters, the expo’s exhibition zones are dedicated to state-of-the-art technology, hardware, digital applications and experience, and startups. The expo will also feature a global competition on big data and artificial intelligence. Published in Daily Times, May 27th 2018.