Chen Wenjun:

The last question.

Yicai:

Digital rural development is an important strategic direction for rural vitalization and an essential part of building a Digital China. What progress has been made in promoting digital rural development? What new measures will be taken? Thank you.

Yang Xiaowei:

In accordance with the decisions and plans of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council, the CAC has deeply implemented the Outline of the Digital Rural Development Strategy. We have enhanced policy coordination and interaction at different levels with relevant departments, including the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, the NDRC, and the MIIT. Together, we have identified and focused on the key tasks of digital rural development in 2020 with coordinated actions. In the past year, with COVID-19 control as a "new normal," digital rural development played a big role in various aspects: in the support of COVID-19 control and work resumption in rural areas; advancing poverty alleviation; promoting agricultural and rural modernization; improving information services for agriculture, rural areas, and rural people; and bridging the digital divide between urban and rural areas.

First, all targets for digital rural development in 2020 were achieved on schedule. Thanks to the efforts by the MIIT, the SASAC, China's three major telecom operators (China Mobile, China Unicom, and China Telecom), and China Tower, information infrastructure in rural areas was further improved. More than 98% of administrative villages had access to fiber-optic cables and 4G services. Some 309 million rural people accessed the internet, and the internet penetration rate in rural areas was 55.9% by the end of last year. Total online retail sales across China's 832 national-level poverty-stricken counties jumped 26% year on year to more than 301.4 billion yuan ($46.3 billion).

Second, internet infrastructure in rural areas was further improved. The MIIT and the Ministry of Finance (MOF) organized the provision of universal telecommunications services in six batches. We established 13,700 4G base stations in rural areas. The National Radio and Television Administration (NRTA) stepped up efforts to increase the coverage of radio and TV broadcasts in rural areas. Approximately 146 million rural households had access to satellite TV.

Third, the digital economy expanded the space for rural development. The Ministry of Commerce, the MOF, and the new national administration for rural vitalization continued to introduce e-commerce to poverty-stricken villages and has supported e-commerce development in a total of 1,338 counties. Live streaming has become a new way to facilitate the outflow of agricultural products from the countryside.

Fourth, we utilized information technology to drive the digital transformation of agricultural production. The Ministry of Science and Technology organized the implementation of major projects, while the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs promoted the integrated application of information technology and agricultural machinery services in various fields such as plantation and animal husbandry.

Fifth, with the establishment of a nationwide online platform, government services are being extended from national, provincial, municipal, and county levels to townships. 

Sixth, continuous measures were made to develop cyber culture in rural areas. The Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee, the CAC, the NRTA, and other departments worked together to promote the building of integrated media centers at the county level. So far, more than 2,400 county-level integrated media centers have been launched and are developing into major platforms for public communication.

Seventh, active steps were taken to explore new models for digital rural development. Last year, the CAC and seven other ministerial-level departments launched a trial project for digital rural development, which now covers 117 counties and cities. We are tracking its development in order to accumulate experience which can be applied to other places across the country.

We are cooperating with other relevant departments to identify key tasks for digital rural development in 2021 according to the Outline of the Digital Rural Development Strategy. We aim to boost the development of rural industries, further optimize the layout of the industries, and enhance rural people's digital skills and literacy so as to consolidate gains in poverty alleviation, especially poverty alleviation through internet-based services, and upgrade services by promoting digital rural development.

Chen Wenjun:

Thank you to all the speakers and journalists. Today's press conference is hereby concluded. 

Translated and edited by Mi Xingang, Liu Qiang, Liu Jianing, Huang Shan, Zhang Jiaqi, Zhou Jing, Lin Liyao, Zhang Junmian, Zhang Rui, Chen Xia, Duan Yaying, Zhu Bochen, Li Huiru, Xu Xiaoxuan, Fan Junmei, Wang Qian, Zhang Liying, Wang Wei, Wang Yiming, David Ball, Jay Birbeck, and Tom Arnstein. In case of any discrepancy between the English and Chinese texts, the Chinese version is deemed to prevail.