The 2025 Global Entrepreneurs Summit on Trade in Services, hosted by the Global Alliance for Trade in Services (GATIS), took place successfully on the morning of September 11 in the large conference room on Floor 2, Hall 1 at Shougang Park. As the fourth summit since GATIS's founding in 2022, it has become a key thematic forum of the China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS). The event featured a clear theme, diverse content, and notable highlights. It brought together over 500 high-level participants from government agencies, foreign embassies in China, international organizations, business associations, Fortune 500 companies, industry leaders, and member organizations, both online and in person, yielding substantial outcomes.
The summit, themed "Digital Intelligence Driving Inclusive Development," focused on AI's impact on trade in services and the global need for inclusive development of trade in services. It included sessions such as opening speeches, authoritative release, speeches and discussions, and policy dialogue. Jiang Zengwei, President of the Global Alliance for Trade in Services, noted that digital technologies have given powerful momentum to global trade in services, driving rapid and sustained growth and making it a key engine of global economic and trade growth. However, digital divide, trade protectionism, and supply chain shifts have intensified uncertainty, instability, and disequilibrium in the development of global trade in services. The summit was convened to foster exchange and collaboration, policy dialogue, and achievement release. It brought together diverse perspectives to build consensus, remove barriers, and explore solutions to ensure that developing countries, SMEs, and other groups participate equitably in trade in services and benefit from its growth. By doing so, the summit aims to ensure that global trade in services remains on a stable and sustainable path. Leaders from the Ministry of Commerce, Beijing, and Australia's Ambassador to China Scott Dewar, also attended and delivered remarks.
At the authoritative release session, the Ministry of Commerce released the Work Plan for Supporting Beijing to Take the Lead in Piloting the WTO's E-commerce Agreement. Developed jointly by the Ministry of Commerce and five other national agencies, including the Cyberspace Administration of China, the plan aims to advance the early implementation of the WTO's E-Commerce Agreement, the first global digital trade agreement reached in late 2024. As China's sole pilot city, Beijing will be the first to implement the agreement.
Ms. Johanna Hill, WTO Deputy Director-General, delivered a special video message for the release. Implementing the agreement in Beijing will lay the groundwork for its nationwide adoption, demonstrating China's commitment to high-standard opening-up and offering valuable insights to other countries.
At the achievement release session, the Global Alliance for Trade in Services launched the 2025 Global Trends Report on Inclusive Development in Trade in Services. The report offers a global perspective, systematically defining "inclusive development" and analyzing the latest trends and structural changes in trade in services against the background of digital and intelligent transformation. It identifies key factors affecting inclusive development of trade in services, establishes an evaluation framework, and proposes targeted recommendations across four areas: policy, industry, promotion, and rules, based on an analysis of major challenges. In addition, to strengthen the role of digital technologies and AI in promoting trade in services and digital trade, better integrate industry resources, and enhance its service capacity, GATIS announced the establishment of the Digital Economy Committee and the Aviation Industry Committee. This marks a significant step forward in building GATIS's professional service capabilities and institutionalized operations.
At the speeches and discussions session, Ms. Dorothy Tembo, Deputy Executive Director of International Trade Centre (ITC), delivered a keynote speech titled "Trends and Prospects of Global Trade in Services." She highlighted that trade in services has become a key pillar of the global economy and the most dynamic part of international trade, with its share in global trade continuing to rise. Its growth not only drives the service sector but also reshapes trade operations, improving prospects for goods trade and creating more business opportunities, especially for SMEs. She also expressed the critical role of digital technologies, particularly AI, in advancing SMEs and trade in services, stressing the need to move beyond fragmented approaches and isolated decisions in technology adoption. Five speakers from Qualcomm, AstraZeneca, Australian Services Roundtable, Airbus China, and Deloitte China delivered presentations, sharing insights into the practical applications and future prospects of digital intelligence technologies in driving industrial transformation. They also explored pathways for digital intelligence to promote inclusive development of trade in services.
At the policy dialogue session, Sevim Dagdelen, Foreign Policy Spokesperson for the Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance, Robert Harutyunyan, President of Armenian-Chinese Friendship Development Association, Zhu Guangyao, Bureau Level Official at Level 2 of the Department of Trade in Services and Commercial Services of the Ministry of Commerce, Pierre MIROCHINIKOFF, Vice President of Benelux Chamber of Commerce in China, Chinyere Almona, Director-General at the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Nigeria, and Liu Feina, Executive President and Secretary-General of Guangdong E-business Association, discussed key topics including policies on inclusive development of trade in services and corporate compliance. They presented ideas on how these policies affect businesses, outlined compliance priorities, and shared expectations for advancing inclusive development of trade in services. The discussion offered practical insights and references for governments, industry organizations, and enterprises aiming to promote inclusive development.
