Guo Jiakun Chairs Foreign Ministry Press Conference, Highlights Digital Trade Expo

Summary

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun chaired a regular press conference on 24 September 2026. The fifth Global Digital Trade Expo opened in Hangzhou that morning under the theme 'Meet the AI Future at the Digital Trade Expo'. Premier Li Qiang attended the launch ceremony and delivered remarks.

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and Kyrgyz Prime Minister Adylbek Kasymaliev attended and spoke, while UNIDO Director General Gerd Müller addressed the event by video. More than 1,200 representatives from nearly 50 countries and regions and relevant international organisations attended the launch ceremony. In his remarks, Li Qiang shared three observations: first, digital trade offers insights into new changes and trends in international trade and economic development; second, countries should embrace openness to promote better global trade in the digital era, strengthen digital connectivity, bridge the digital divide and improve digital governance; third, China will contribute more to global digital trade through concrete actions, continue to expand digital consumption demand, consolidate digital industrial support and improve the digital development environment, and China's development of AI and other technologies follows an open-source and open approach.

Foreign leaders said the expo provides a valuable platform for countries to discuss cooperation, promote development and share outcomes, and expressed hope to work with China to bridge the digital divide and build a fair, ethical, secure and inclusive global digital trade order. The press conference also took questions on China-US economic and trade consultations, US-Iran relations, the '26 August' mudslide disaster in Gyirong County, Tibet, remarks by a New Zealand cybersecurity agency concerning China, and arrangements for China-US interaction during the APEC meetings. Guo Jiakun said questions on China-US economic and trade consultations should be directed to the competent Chinese authorities, and that China and the US are in communication on arrangements for interactions between the two heads of state this year.

In response to a New Zealand cybersecurity agency's claim that China poses the most persistent and powerful state-backed cybersecurity threat to New Zealand, Guo Jiakun said China consistently opposes and resolutely cracks down on hacking in accordance with the law, opposes the spread of false cybersecurity information for political purposes, and urged the relevant New Zealand agency to stop spreading lies and creating tensions and to do more to enhance mutual understanding and trust between China and New Zealand. The disaster left 261 foreign nationals unaccounted for, and China has notified the relevant countries' embassies in China. In line with the 2026 Mid-Autumn Festival holiday schedule, the Foreign Ministry's regular press conference will be suspended on 25 September and resume on 28 September.

Commentary

The fifth Global Digital Trade Expo, themed 'Meet the AI Future at the Digital Trade Expo', highlights the deep integration of artificial intelligence and digital trade. China's commitment to an open-source and open approach in AI, with models such as DeepSeek lowering technical barriers, offers New Zealand small and medium-sized enterprises a low-cost route to AI tools. Digital trade's share of New Zealand's services trade is rising year by year, but digital capabilities among SMEs vary widely.

Firms could look to cross-border payment and smart logistics solutions showcased at the expo to streamline export processes to China. At the same time, Premier Li Qiang's emphasis on bridging the digital divide means New Zealand businesses can use Chinese e-commerce platforms and digital marketing tools to reach Chinese consumers more precisely. On the other hand, a New Zealand cybersecurity agency's recent portrayal of China as a cyber threat runs counter to the digital cooperation atmosphere advocated by China and could affect bilateral digital trust.

SMEs should monitor policy developments, strengthen data compliance and cybersecurity protections while using China's digital ecosystem, and avoid becoming entangled in geopolitical friction. The expo platform gives New Zealand firms a window into China's digital market rules and partnerships, and they are advised to explore digital services cooperation by attending online or connecting with exhibitors.

Keywords: Foreign Ministry regular press conference, Global Digital Trade Expo, Li Qiang, Guo Jiakun, China-US economic and trade consultations, New Zealand cybersecurity, digital trade, Gyirong County mudslide disaster

Summary in Chinese | 摘要

2026年9月24日，外交部发言人郭嘉昆主持例行记者会。第五届全球数字贸易博览会当日上午在杭州开幕，主题为“在数贸会遇见AI未来”，李强总理出席启动仪式并致辞。马来西亚总理安瓦尔、吉尔吉斯斯坦总理卡瑟马利耶夫等出席并致辞，联合国工发组织总干事穆勒等视频致辞，来自近50个国家和地区及有关国际组织的1200多名各界代表出席启动仪式。

李强在致辞中分享三点思考：一是透过数字贸易洞察国际经贸发展的新变化新趋势；二是以开放的胸怀推动数字时代全球贸易更好发展，加强数字联通、弥合数字鸿沟、完善数字治理；三是中国将以实际行动为全球数字贸易贡献更大力量，持续扩大数字消费需求、夯实数字产业支撑、优化数字发展环境，中国人工智能等技术发展坚持开源开放路线。外方领导人表示，数贸会为各国搭建了共商合作、共促发展、共享成果的宝贵平台，期待同中方携手跨越数字鸿沟，共建公正、向善、安全、普惠的全球数字贸易秩序。记者会还就中美经贸磋商、美伊关系、西藏吉隆县“8·26”泥石流灾害、新西兰网络安全机构涉华言论、亚太经合组织会议期间中美互动安排等答问。

郭嘉昆表示，关于中美经贸磋商建议向中方主管部门询问；中美双方就年内两国元首互动安排保持着沟通。针对新西兰网络安全机构称中国对新西兰构成由国家支持的最持久、最强大的网络安全威胁，郭嘉昆表示中方一贯反对并坚决依法打击黑客攻击，反对出于政治目的散布网络安全虚假信息，敦促新方有关机构停止散布谎言、制造矛盾，多做有利于增进中新双方相互了解和信任的事。此次灾害共造成261名外籍人员失联，中方已向有关国家驻华使馆进行通报。

根据2026年中秋节假期放假安排，外交部例行记者会将于9月25日休会，9月28日恢复。

Commentary in Chinese | 评论

第五届全球数字贸易博览会以“在数贸会遇见AI未来”为主题，凸显人工智能与数字贸易的深度融合。中国在AI领域坚持开源开放路线，如DeepSeek等模型降低技术门槛，为新西兰中小企业提供了低成本接入AI工具的机会。新西兰数字贸易占服务贸易比重逐年上升，但中小企业数字化能力参差不齐，可关注数贸会展示的跨境支付、智能物流等解决方案，优化对华出口流程。

同时，李强总理强调弥合数字鸿沟，新西兰企业可借助中国电商平台和数字营销工具，更精准触达中国消费者。另一方面，新西兰网络安全机构近期渲染中国网络威胁，与中方倡导的数字合作氛围相悖，可能影响双边数字信任。中小企业应关注政策动向，在利用中国数字生态的同时，加强数据合规与网络安全防护，避免卷入地缘政治摩擦。

数贸会平台为新西兰企业提供了观察中国数字市场规则和伙伴关系的窗口，建议通过线上参会或对接参展商，探索数字服务合作可能。

关键词: 外交部例行记者会, 全球数字贸易博览会, 李强, 郭嘉昆, 中美经贸磋商, 新西兰网络安全, 数字贸易, 吉隆县泥石流灾害

Source: Chinese Consulate-General in Auckland – Into the Consular District