Video Message
Wuzhen, Zhejiang Province, China
Excellencies,
Distinguished Delegates,
It is a great honour to address you.
Digital technologies are central to every global or public agenda today. They have become a defining feature of our societies, transforming industries, public services and institutions, creating unprecedented opportunities.
Yet, these advances bring significant challenges. Information integrity is increasingly at risk. Cyber threats are becoming more sophisticated, disrupting public systems and undermining trust. Most critically, the digital divide persists and continues to widen. Today, 2.6 billion people remain offline, excluded from the benefits of digital transformation.
As the Wuzhen Summit theme reminds us, we must forge a safer, more inclusive digital future. This can only be achieved through strong cooperation among all stakeholders. Building effective global Internet governance, investing in digital infrastructure, and strengthening digital skills are essential to this shared vision.
We must ensure that no one is left behind, as repeatedly emphasized by the United Nations Secretary-General — particularly vulnerable groups including women, persons with disabilities, indigenous peoples, refugees, and those living in rural or remote areas, to name just a few.
Amid growing governance challenges, we have before us a unique opportunity to act. The momentum to shape a responsible and inclusive digital future has never been stronger, as the United Nations General Assembly conducts the twenty-year review of the World Summit on the Information Society, or WSIS+20.
I encourage you to share the insights from the Wuzhen Summit to inform the critical WSIS+20 process.
The United Nations is committed to supporting your efforts to harness the full potential of digital technologies for sustainable development. Together, we can make digital transformation inclusive and impactful.
I wish you fruitful deliberations.
Thank you.