UN World Data Forum 2023 Successfully Closed
On April 27, the United Nations World Data Forum 2023, hosted by the United Nations and co-organized by the National Bureau of Statistics of China and the People’s Government of Zhejiang Province, successfully concluded its four-day agenda in Hangzhou, Zhejiang. Amina J. Mohammed, Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, delivered a video speech. Mao Youfeng, Deputy Commissioner of the National Bureau of Statistics of China, Xu Wenguang, Executive Deputy Governor of Zhejiang Province, and Yao Gaoyuan, Mayor of Hangzhou, attended the closing ceremony and delivered speeches. Francesca Perucci, Assistant Director of the United Nations Statistics Division, released the forum’s outcome document, the Hangzhou Declaration. Leonardo Trujillo, Deputy Director of the National Administrative Department of Statistics, Colombia and representative of the next host country, delivered a speech. Stefan Schweinfest, Director of the United Nations Statistics Division, gave a concluding speech and announced the closure of the forum. Mao Shengyong, Deputy Commissioner of the National Bureau of Statistics of China, chaired the closing ceremony.
Mao Youfeng stated that through the collaborative efforts of all attendees, the United Nations World Data Forum 2023 fulfilled its planned agenda. The representatives expressed great admiration for President Xi Jinping’s congratulatory letter, acknowledging that the ideas put forth in the letter comprehend the global development trend, articulate China’s stance on using data to promote sustainable development, and showcase China’s sincere aspirations to collaborate with all countries in building a better future for humanity. The representatives expressed their willingness to strengthen pragmatic cooperation with China in the field of data, deepen the exchange and mutual learning of data innovation achievements, and jointly contribute intelligence and strength in support of realizing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development of the United Nations.
Mao Youfeng expressed at the forum that representatives from all parties engaged in in-depth discussions and fruitful exchanges centered on the pivotal theme of “data”. They shared new ideas, methods, and approaches for utilizing data to serve scientific decision-making and macro-governance, leading to ideological consensus and practical outcomes. This forum successfully achieved its objectives of promoting mutual understanding, fostering consensus, and advancing cooperation. Undoubtedly, it will infuse fresh vitality and impetus into the deepening of innovative cooperation in the field of data and the promotion of sustainable development on a global scale.
At the closing ceremony, Mao Youfeng and Xu Wenguang gifted souvenirs to the representative from Colombia, the host country of the next United Nations World Data Forum.
This forum is held in a hybrid format, with a blend of online and offline sessions, which includes one plenary session dedicated to China, five other plenary sessions organized by the United Nations, more than seventy parallel sessions, exhibitions, and a series of special events, all centered on four primary themes: data innovation and cooperation, data value mining, enhancement of data credibility, and construction of a sound data ecosystem. Over 1,000 representatives from diverse sectors are present at the conference, including international organizations such as the United Nations and its agencies in China, statistical and data management departments of governments from around the world, academic institutions at home and abroad, Chinese government sectors and business communities, with an additional 11,000 individuals participating online.