On September 3, 2026, during the United Nations Global Compact’s "Second Global Business Summit on Belt and Road Infrastructure Investment to Accelerate the SDGs," the launch ceremony for the expert groups of the "BRI for SDG" Action Platform by the UN Global Compact was held, and the Digital Infrastructure Expert Working Group was officially launched. The establishment of the Digital Infrastructure Expert Working Group under the BRI for SDGs Action Platform aims to respond to the pressing challenges and opportunities in the global digital transformation. According to the UN's Pact for the Future and its annex, the Global Digital Compact, bridging the global digital divide, strengthening the trusted governance of emerging technologies like artificial intelligence, and ensuring they better serve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have become common aspirations of the international community. At a critical juncture when the Belt and Road Initiative is advancing toward high-quality development, and China is deepening its digital economy and high-level opening-up, promoting the construction of digital infrastructure and the "Digital Silk Road" is not only about technological innovation and industrial upgrading. It is the core driving force for bridging the digital capacity gap and achieving inclusive development, as well as a vital measure to leverage corporate innovation and integrate digital technology into sustainable development. These efforts require an approach to digital development that promotes multi-stakeholder participation, security, inclusiveness, and international cooperation. To this end, the UN Global Compact’s BRI for SDGs Action Platform specifically established the "Digital Infrastructure Expert Working Group." The Working Group seeks to provide an open collaborative platform integrating international exchange, joint research, capacity building, and project incubation. By bringing together stakeholders from different sectors, it aims to jointly explore innovative pathways for the sustainable development of digital infrastructure and its value chains. During the ceremony, the first cohort of the Digital Infrastructure Expert Working Group was introduced. The expert group members include: • Mehdi Snène, Senior Adviser on Artificial Intelligence and Digital Transformation, Office of the UN Secretary-General's Envoy on Technology • Huadong Guo, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Director of the International Research Center of Big Data for Sustainable Development Goals • Xiaodong Li, Founder and Director, Fuxi Institution, Former Vice-Chairman, Internet Society of China (ISC) • Yue Liu, Deputy Director of Global Development and Cooperation Center, China Academy of Information and Communications Technology • Lan Xue, Dean of Schwarzman College and Dean of the Institute for AI International Governance, Tsinghua University • Yi Zeng, Wu Yu-Zhang Chair Professor, Gaoling School of AI, Renmin University of China, and Founding Dean of Beijing Institute of AI Safety and Governance • Representatives from leading tech and digital organizations (in no particular order): Institute for AI International Governance of Tsinghua University, Lenovo Group, Honor Device Co., Ltd., Tencent Sustainable Social Value, Hangzhou Hikvision Digital Technology Co., Ltd., and ZTE Corporation. Ms. Meng Liu, Head of the UN Global Compact China Office, H.E. Mr. Ong Tee Keat, President, Belt and Road Initiative Caucus for Asia-Pacific (BRICAP) and Former Minister of Transport of Malaysia, and Dr. Bicky Bhangu, President of UN Global Compact Network Singapore, officially presented certificates to the first group of expert representatives. The launch of this expert working group is another significant initiative by the UN Global Compact’s BRI for SDGs Action Platform, based on the launch of six expert groups under the Platform — covering Sustainable Transport, Compliance, Finance, Branding, Traditional Medicine and Social Value — on 5 December 2025 at the 2025 UN Global Compact Annual Conference and the 25th Anniversary Commemoration of UNGC. It is also an important move to accelerate progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals, to empower corporate sustainability, and to jointly build an ecosystem for ESG. Moving forward, the Digital Infrastructure Expert Working Group will fully leverage the platform's bridging role, bringing together the wisdom of government institutions, public sector, academia, and the business community to deepen regional synergy and international cooperation in digital technology. By providing professional intellectual support and capacity building, it will assist enterprises in achieving sustainable, inclusive, and sustainable development across Belt and Road markets, jointly painting a new blueprint for global digital cooperation.
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