IoT connections in China to reach record high of over 3 billion

The number of Internet of Things (IoT) connections in China will increase to a record high of over 3 billion by the end of 2024, according to a white paper on the global digital economy released on Sunday.

The white paper was released at the 9th World Internet of Things Convention (WIOTC) that kicked off in Beijing earlier in the day.

It says nearly 1 million companies have the conditions to engage in the advanced digital economy such as intelligent Internet of Everything (IoE) in China.

More than 4.3 million IoT-enabled 5G base stations are expected to be built in China by the end of this year, according to the white paper.

China hopes to see positive outcomes on the global climate finance goal at the upcoming 29th Conference of the Parties on Climate Change (COP29), Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said at a press briefing in Beijing on Friday.

Azerbaijan, the host of COP29, will host the World Leaders Climate Action Summit in Baku, the capital city of the central Asian country. The conference is scheduled to take place at the Baku Olympic Stadium from Nov. 11 to 22, and is expected to be the largest event organized by Azerbaijan to date.

"The main task of COP29 is to set a global climate finance goal after 2025 and make preparations for the submission of a new round of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), which is of great importance to advancing global climate governance. Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang will attend the summit as the special representative of President Xi Jinping," Mao said.

"China stands ready to work with other parties to uphold the goal, principles and system of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Paris Agreement, advance practical actions and achieve sustainable development. China hopes to see positive outcomes on the global climate finance goal at the meeting. Developed countries should earnestly fulfill their responsibilities and provide strong financial support to developing countries for their climate response. China will continue to offer assistance to fellow developing countries to the best of its capacity within the framework of South-South cooperation," she said.

The spokeswoman also highlighted the strong friendship and mutually beneficial partnership between China and Azerbaijan.

"China and Azerbaijan are good friends with sincerity and mutual trust, and good partners based on equality and mutual benefit. In July this year, President Xi Jinping met with President Ilham Aliyev on the sidelines of the Astana summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), and the two sides jointly announced the decision to elevate the bilateral relations to a strategic partnership, which opens a new chapter for the growth of the relations between China and Azerbaijan. During Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang's visit, he will hold talks with Deputy Prime Minister Shahin Abdulla oglu Mustafayev and the two sides will have an in-depth exchange of views on bilateral relations and cooperation across the board. We believe that this visit will further move forward the China-Azerbaijan relationship and bring more benefits to the two peoples," Mao said.