The Regional Meeting on Enhancing Digital Literacy among Older Persons in Asia and the Pacific was held in Beijing on August 1-2, 2024 with the aim of promoting digital literacy among older adults in the Asia-Pacific region and fostering a more inclusive society for seniors. The event was co-hosted by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) and China Population and Development Research Center (CPDRC).

In their opening remarks, YANG Lin, Deputy Executive Secretary of ESCAP, Siddharth Chatterjee, United Nations Resident Coordinator in China, ZHANG Xiaofeng, Deputy Director of the Department of Ageing Work of the Ministry of Civil Affairs, and HE Dan, Director-General of CPDRC, highlighted the challenges posed by demographic transitions, digital transformations, and climate change in the Asia-Pacific region. They emphasized the need to prioritize enhancing the digital literacy of older persons and to promote digital inclusivity and empowerment.

Following the opening ceremony, Professor ZUO Meiyun, Deputy Dean of the School of Information at Renmin University of China, delivered a keynote speech. Experts and practitioners from Cambodia, India, Laos, Japan, South Korea, Thailand, and Kyrgyzstan shared insights into the current state of digital literacy among older adults in the Asia-Pacific region, national policy frameworks, and successful cases of senior associations in improving digital literacy among seniors. Participants also discussed training materials and programs designed to enhance digital literacy among older adults.