On December 2, leadership from the Asia Academy of Digital Economics (AADE) and prominent Indonesian industry figure Firlie Ganinduto joined the Global Digital Economy Conference’s city tour in Ya'an, Sichuan. The delegation attended the official plaque-awarding ceremony for the Global Digital Economy City Alliance and witnessed the launch of the "Digital Economy New Passage" initiative. The event marks a definitive step in constructing a tangible framework for digital cooperation between inland China and Southeast Asia.
From Ecological Reserve to Green Computing Hub
Historically recognized for its giant panda reserves and dense biodiversity, Ya'an is rapidly executing a transformation into a cornerstone of China's "East Data, West Computing" strategy. The municipality has emerged as a premier green computing center, currently ranking first in Sichuan Province and eighth nationally for computing power quality.
Generating over 50 billion kilowatt-hours of clean energy annually, Ya'an offers the sustainable, low-cost power required for massive digital infrastructure. The city operates seamlessly within a one-hour transit radius of Chengdu and sits at the physical intersection of six national level-one and eleven level-two backbone networks. This specific infrastructure configuration establishes Ya'an as a highly efficient node connecting the Chengdu-Chongqing economic zone directly to South Asia.
High-Level Cross-Border Expertise
The inclusion of Firlie Ganinduto in the AADE delegation underscores the caliber of international commercial and regulatory expertise driving this Eurasian initiative. A certified Chief Cyber Security Officer, Ganinduto founded and leads ADIGSI, Indonesia's first digitalization and cybersecurity association, which was co-founded with the Indonesian National Cyber Security Agency (BSSN).
His extensive background includes serving as the Secretary General of the Indonesian Fintech Association (AFTECH) and leading the ICT sector for the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KADIN) from 2021 to 2025. With a venture portfolio spanning telecommunications, finance, and traditional energy sectors over the last decade, his participation highlights the substantial, cross-industry capital backing these new digital passages.
Advancing the AADE Strategic Vision
AADE's active engagement in the Ya'an summit directly operationalizes the institution's core mandates. By integrating Southeast Asian regulatory and technological leadership into China's regional computing infrastructure, the Academy is executing its commitment to Digital Connectivity. The new corridors established through the Ya'an initiative serve to dismantle existing data silos and facilitate the high-level cross-border cooperation necessary for a unified Asian digital market.
By linking emerging, high-capacity hubs like Ya'an with diverse Southeast Asian markets, AADE continues to champion Digital Inclusion. This strategic bridging ensures that enterprises and developers across the Global South can reliably access and benefit from top-tier, low-carbon computing resources, leveling the playing field for the next generation of the digital economy.