The International Conference on Digital Economy & Digital Silk Road is held in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, on Sept 18, attracting representatives from 40 countries all over the world. [Photo/sina.com.cn]

The significance of the digital connection in the China-led Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) came into sharp focus on Sept 18, as the International Conference on Digital Economy & Digital Silk Road opened in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province.

Aiming at strengthening exchanges and cooperation in the digital economy among the countries involved in the BRI, the two-day conference is bringing together government officials and representatives from over 40 countries and regions around the world, including the Czech Republic, Serbia, Malaysia, Laos and South Korea.

Jiří Havlíček, the Czech vice minister of Industry and Trade, said that the Czech Republic, a country with a population of 10 million, is advanced in digital sectors, which is a good opportunity for China and bilateral trade between both countries.

Over the years, Zhejiang province has made great strides in developing the digital economy and is the headquarters of several world-renowned digital companies, including China's e-commerce giant Alibaba and Hikvision, said Feng Fei, executive vice governor of the province, adding that the provincial government is now making the digital economy a top priority in Zhejiang's development.

"We hope this conference can facilitate the exchanges and communications between Zhejiang, or even China as a whole, and countries across the world to create a community with win-win cooperation and common prosperity", he said.