GYDA to Contribute Expertise to the Global Digital Economy Cities Alliance (DEC40)

Beijing, July 2025 — At the opening of the 2025 Global Digital Economy Conference in Beijing, the launch of the Global Digital Economy Cities Alliance marked a major milestone in multilateral cooperation on digital transformation. The Global Youth Development Alliance (GYDA) welcomes the initiative and will actively contribute through its international network of academic researchers, industry leaders, and financial experts.

A Shift from Bilateral to Institutionalized Global Cooperation

The newly formed Alliance unites cities across Europe, North America, Asia-Pacific, the Middle East, and Latin America to collaboratively shape the next phase of the digital economy. It transitions global digital engagement from fragmented, project-based models to institutionalized mechanisms that emphasize sustained coordination and scalable frameworks.

Addressing Critical Digital Challenges

The Alliance will focus on four priority areas:

• Digital infrastructure construction
• Data governance frameworks
• Ethical deployment of AI technologies
• Smart city applications for public service delivery

These themes reflect both the technological ambitions and the policy responsibilities of participating cities. Under the overarching theme of the conference—“Building Digitally Friendly Cities”—members are expected to share models, build joint capacity, and develop aligned strategies to address common challenges.

GYDA’s Role: Bridging Youth, Policy, and Global Expertise

GYDA views this initiative as a crucial opportunity for shaping equitable digital futures. Through its interdisciplinary global network, GYDA will contribute to the Alliance by:

• Connecting emerging youth leaders to urban innovation and public policy agendas
• Delivering research and advisory on tech governance, regulatory agility, and inclusive design
• Facilitating pilot collaboration between city governments, academic labs, and the private sector

A digitally friendly city is not just about smart infrastructure—it’s about inclusive governance, ethical data, and resilient institutions. This is where youth and multilateral partners must work together.”

Looking Ahead

As the Alliance enters its build phase, GYDA is committed to supporting its development with both thought leadership and practical collaboration. Ensuring digital development benefits all—equitably and sustainably—will require the joint efforts of governments, industries, and future generations.