Information & Communication Technology Working Group Position Paper 2018/2019 - 信息与通信技术工作组建议书2018/2019 Go back »

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The term information and communication technology (ICT) can be taken to mean all devices, networking components, applications and systems that, when combined, allow people and organisations to interact in the digital world. ICT is leveraged for economic, societal and interpersonal transactions and interactions, and has drastically changed how people work, communicate, learn and live. Moreover, ICT continues to revolutionise all parts of the human experience as computers, and increasingly robots, carry out many of the tasks once handled by humans.

The ICT industry plays a fundamental role in economic and social developments, developments that will benefit both Europe and China if both sides are committed to cooperate further. Advances in ICT enable an overall improved user experience, making peoples’ lives more convenient, and are essential for the successful transformation and upgrading of other industries such as manufacturing, mobility and financial services. This will be achieved through improved efficiency and guaranteed security. Additionally, ICT is essential for many new developmental areas, such as the Internet of things (IOT) and smart cities, to take off.

European ICT companies are among the largest investors in China and contribute to China’s development by transferring technology, creating jobs, contributing expertise, providing intellectual property (IP) and by training a new generation of Chinese engineers in the ICT field. A large percentage of European ICT companies have significant research and development (R&D) operations with well-established links to Chinese universities and research institutes that contribute significantly to ICT sectoral development in China.

As such, European ICT companies should receive equal treatment in the Chinese marketplace, where substantial improvement in key areas is needed, including, but not limited to, participation in standardisation, rule-making, government-funded national R&D projects and market access.

Formed in 2001, the Information and Communication Technology Working Group consists of major European telecommunications vendors, service providers, digital content providers and other companies that meet on a regular basis to assess reforms that can affect the ICT industry. The working group also serves as a platform for information exchange on ICT industry developments, including but not limited to standardisation and conformity assessment, services, technical regulations, research and innovation, interoperability and global harmonisation. The working group’s activities are intended to contribute to consultation and dialogue with all government agencies that are responsible for overseeing the ICT sector, as increased dialogue between Chinese decision-makers and the European ICT industry would be beneficial to both parties. The Information and Communication Technology Working Group contains the Cybersecurity Sub-working Group.

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