November 20, 2025, Nantong, Jiangsu --- The 2025 Global Optical Fiber and Cable Conference, themed "Fiber Leads the World, Data Drives the Future," grandly opened today at the Nantong International Conference Center. This conference is not only an annual event for China's optical fiber and cable industry but also a global industry dialogue with profound international influence. Over 700 guests from more than 30 countries gathered to discuss the development of global digital infrastructure.
At the opening ceremony, the lineup of international guests was notable. Representatives from the international political and business communities were all in attendance, including Mr. Berlianto Situngkir, Consul General of the Indonesian Consulate in Shanghai; Mr. Cahyo Purnomo, Director of Investment Promotion for East Asia, South Asia, the Middle East, and Africa at the Indonesian Ministry of Investment; Mr. Rahmad Widjaja Sakti, Deputy Secretary-General of the China Committee of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry; Mr. Gerson Rittmann, Chief Strategic Advisor for Fixed Networks for the State Government of Goiás, Brazil; and Mr. Daniel Wagner, Technology Director of Telefónica, Spain, demonstrating the conference's global reach.
Deepening Regional Cooperation, Jointly Building the Digital Silk Road
A particular highlight of this conference was the in-depth participation of the Indonesian delegation. Coinciding with the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Indonesia, the delegation comprised several high-level guests, including Mr. Berlianto Situngkir, Consul General of the Indonesian Consulate in Shanghai; Mr. Cahyo Purnomo, Director of Investment Promotion for East Asia, South Asia, the Middle East, and Africa at the Indonesian Ministry of Investment; and Mr. Rahmad Widjaja Sakti, Deputy Secretary-General of the China Committee of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
During a special segment commemorating the 75th anniversary of China-Indonesia diplomatic relations, a symbolic gift exchange ceremony was held. Mr. Berlianto Situngkir, Consul General of the Indonesian Consulate in Shanghai, presented an exquisite gift representing traditional Indonesian culture to the APC Conference on behalf of Indonesia, symbolizing the depth and warmth of cooperation between the two countries in the digital economy. On behalf of the Chinese side, APC Chairman Mao Qian reciprocated with a distinctive gift symbolizing optical fiber communication connectivity, embodying the vision for enhanced digital infrastructure interconnection between the two nations.
This historic moment was witnessed by Mr. Cahyo Purnomo, Director of Investment Promotion at the Indonesian Ministry of Investment; Mr. Rahmad Widjaja Sakti, Deputy Secretary-General of the China Committee of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry; Mr. Xue Chi, Chairman of Zhongtian Technology Group; and Mr. Gao Feng, APC Deputy Secretary-General and Secretary-General. Mr. Berlianto Situngkir stated during the ceremony: "This commemorative gift exchange not only bears witness to the profound friendship between our two countries over the past 75 years but also symbolizes our commitment to continue moving forward hand in hand in the digital economy era. Indonesia is committed to building a Southeast Asian digital hub and looks forward to deeper cooperation with Chinese partners in digital infrastructure areas such as 5G networks, data centers, and submarine optical cables."
Mr. Cahyo Purnomo, Director at the Indonesian Ministry of Investment, added: "With a population of 270 million, Indonesia is one of the largest digital economies in Southeast Asia. We are actively advancing the 'Digital Indonesia 2025' strategy, which presents a vast market for Chinese optical fiber and cable enterprises. We look forward to attracting more high-quality Chinese companies to participate in Indonesia's digital economy construction through the APC platform."
Sharing Global Wisdom, Promoting Technological Exchange
The international dialogue at this conference extended beyond policy to encompass the entire industry chain, including technology R&D and market application. Mr. Gerson Rittmann from Brazil shared experiences in fiber optic network construction in Latin America, while Mr. Daniel Wagner from Telefónica, Spain, introduced the latest developments in Fiber-to-the-x (FTTx) network construction in Europe. These international experience-sharing sessions provided valuable references for Chinese enterprises expanding globally. In addition to the Indonesian delegation, the conference also brought together international guests such as Mr. Gerson Rittmann, Chief Strategic Advisor for Fixed Networks for the State Government of Goiás, Brazil, and Mr. Daniel Wagner, Technology Director of Telefónica, Spain, who shared valuable insights on digital infrastructure development in their respective regions.
With its significant level of internationalization and broad global participation, the conference successfully established a high-level global industry dialogue platform. Industry leaders, technical experts, and policymakers from five continents engaged in in-depth exchanges on technical standards, market opportunities, and industrial collaboration, fully demonstrating the important role of the optical fiber and cable industry as the cornerstone of the global digital economy. By fostering cross-regional and cross-cultural exchange of ideas and experience sharing, the conference not only strengthened the interconnectivity of the global industry chain but also forged a common industry consensus to address future challenges. It marks the global optical fiber and cable industry's progress towards a more open, collaborative, and inclusive direction, laying a solid foundation for building digital infrastructure that benefits the world.
In his speech, APC Conference Chairman Mao Qian stated: "The level of international participation in this conference has reached a new high, reflecting the keen expectation of the global industry to strengthen international cooperation. We will continue to play a bridging role, promoting the establishment of a more open and collaborative global industry ecosystem."
The three-day conference will feature multiple international thematic forums, where operator representatives from North America, Europe, Southeast Asia, Latin America, and other regions will engage in in-depth discussions with global industry chain enterprises. This comprehensive international exchange will not only help Chinese enterprises grasp global market opportunities but also provide a window for international partners to gain a deeper understanding of Chinese innovation. It is bound to inject new momentum into building a more open and collaborative global optical fiber and cable industry ecosystem.
