简体中文
KG
INTRO
The Slush conference, a unique interaction platform in Europe for technical business startups, has concluded in Finland's capital of Helsinki, with thousands more participants than last year.
A top Chinese IT developer, who attended the event, told CNC that he believes there is an opportunity for an emerging independent internet ecosystem rather than the current one dominated by Americans.
PKG
Wang Jian, Chief Technology Officer of Alibaba group, spoke with CNC, after he briefed the Slush audience about China's e-commerce businesses.
The sixth annual gathering attracted 5,000 participants, a number that surprised Finnish media considering about 300 people came to the event in 2008.
After claiming the internet is still largely dominated by U.S. technology, Wang said the popularity of the Slush event gave him confidence that a non-American ecosystem could soon emerge online.
He said 80 percent of netizens live outside America, whereas 80 percent of internet services are provided in America. Wang said this is not only a huge challenge, but an opportunity as well.
SOUNDBITE: WANG JIAN, Chief Technology Officer, Alibaba Group
"These European startups could be our future partners considering their know-how. They have been looking at things other than the American mainstream technology, and this is what we have in common. I suppose it is good for society. It does not matter whether we use domestic tech or foreign tech, what matters is that the talents in the world should not be constricted by national borders."
Wang said he was impressed by the "enthusiasm, determination and solidarity" at the Slush event.
SOUNDBITE: WANG JIAN, Chief Technology Officer, Alibaba Group
"When I'm back in China, I will tell people about this event in Finland, where we can see something other than the mainstream U.S. technology."
Like Europe, thousands of Chinese business startups began to generate huge revenues through the internet and to provide services to millions of users outside China.
Wang said this development was thanks to the global internet.
SOUNDBITE: WANG JIAN, Chief Technology Officer, Alibaba Group
"I belive this technological transformation could only occur in this era. If it wasn't for the internet, we wouldn't have a chance at this kind of transformation. I am deeply impressed by it."
He noted that many successful Chinese startups are gaming companies, just like Finland, a nordic country that saw its gaming industry become the fastest growing sector in 2012.
Although a senior IT specialist, Wang said he only heard of Slush a little while ago, and he described his negligence as the result of a "blind spot."
He said he felt committed to persuading more Chinese developers and investors to attend Slush in future in order to understand the latest developments in Europe.
SOUNDBITE: WANG JIAN, Chief Technology Officer, Alibaba Group
"I will encourage Chinese entrepreneurs to take part in this event, which, at the very least, will give them an opportunity to communicate with each other."
Meanwhile, he believes the limited scale of the market is an obstacle for European developers which can help in testing their products and services.
And therefore their Chinese partners can offer assistance in the huge, fast-growing market.
This year's Slush also drew 60 billion U.S. dollars worth of venture capital, almost twice the value of last year's event.
And Wang said business startups are relatively easy to grow due to the better-organized financing systems in European countries like Finland.
