Digital Silk Road Development Forum | Zhang Donggang: People-centered approach is important to digital and intelligent health

Zhang Donggang, secretary of the CPC committee of Renmin University of China, called for a people-centered approach to the development of digital and intelligent health, stressing the need to harness technological innovation to improve public health and promote well-rounded development of people.

Zhang made the remarks on July 22 at the Digital and Intelligent Health Forum, part of the 2026 World Internet Conference Digital Silk Road Development Forum in Xi'an, Shaanxi province.

In his keynote speech, Zhang focused on how artificial intelligence can enhance public health and global digital health governance and offered academic thoughts on the collaborative development of digital and intelligent health under the Digital Silk Road framework.

Zhang emphasized that digital and intelligent health represents not only a technological revolution but also a value revolution of significance to human civilization and overall development of humanity.

He noted that public health is the foundation of social development and a shared value of humankind, stressing that the advancement of digital health must remain people-centered, harnessing technological innovation to promote human development.

Zhang also called for integrating respect for life and dignity into scientific research and innovation, and underlined the need to promote innovation-driven development by fostering interdisciplinary collaboration in digital health.

RUC is committed to promoting landmark research in digital health governance, transforming innovative outcomes into tangible health benefits, he said.

Highlighting the importance of talent development, he advocated for global academic collaboration to cultivate professionals skilled in both digital technology and healthcare, ensure equal participation in digital health innovation practices, and share in the industry's developmental achievements.