China.org.cn | April 30, 2021
Shangyou News:
In 2003, Zhejiang launched the "Digital Zhejiang" initiative to accelerate the application and penetration of technologies such as AI and blockchain in the manufacturing sector. We know that Zhejiang now plans to deepen the building of "Digital Zhejiang" and push forward digital reform. What are the considerations? Thank you.
Yuan Jiajun:
Thank you for your question. The construction of "Digital Zhejiang" is a deployment made by General Secretary Xi Jinping during his work in Zhejiang. Over the past years, we have continued to make the best use of digital technologies. Currently, the curtain for digital transformation has fully opened. Against the backdrop of the transformation, Zhejiang deepens digital empowerment. Entering the 14th Five-Year Plan period, we have made digital reform a priority. Looking back, we committed various reforms to streamline administration and delegate powers, such as establishing the three lists and ensuring people can get things done without the need for a second trip, the digital transformation of government, and digital reform today. We have made some remarkable achievements. For example, in 2017, we worked to see that people can get things done in one office, without the need for a second trip. To realize this, we connected "isolated data islands" to let data move and reduce the time that our people needed to get things done, allowing them to access convenient services. After that, we launched the digital transformation of government, empowering governance with digital technologies and pushing forward the modernization of the governance system and capacity. One of the remarkable achievements we have made was amid the anti-epidemic battle of 2020. As we prepared the resumption of work and business operations on Feb 7, 2020, we put forward the method of using digital technologies, such as the health code, to support the resumption. Since then, it took one week for us to develop the health code system. And within another week from Feb 14, about 60 million people in Zhejiang had access to the health code. Therefore, Zhejiang powered ahead in returning to work and resuming business and achieved good results. And there was no confirmed case during the resumption of work and business operations.
As we entered new development stage of the 14th Five-Year Plan period, we plan to advance comprehensive digital reform on the basis of the digital transformation of government. Digital reform itself focuses on reform, which requires us to implement the requirements made by General Secretary Xi Jinping, specifically, the Four-Pronged Comprehensive Strategy and comprehensively expanding in-depth reform. In the meantime, we will also empower reform with digital technologies. General reform is about the institutional supply and policy supply. While the output of digital reform means reframing the system and policy supply, and also making use of modern technologies. Zhejiang is now promoting digital reform in all respects and has already built the "152" system. "1" means building a unified and smart platform for public data. Local governments at provincial, city and county level share their data information on the platform. "5" means five systems, which integrate the systems of smart governance for the Party and government, digital government, digital society, digital economy and digital rule of law. "2" means building a theoretical framework and a system of law for digital reform. Currently, digital reform has been implemented within the province, becoming the new driving force for Zhejiang's development during the 14th Five-Year Plan period. It is also part of the general trend. By prioritizing digital reform, we hope to deepen reform in all respects and inject new impetus into Zhejiang's development during the 14th Five-Year Plan period.
We firmly believe that this reform will make big changes within one year and achieve significant progress within two years. By 2025, we plan to make remarkable achievements in advancing the modernization of our governance system and capacity, while energizing the economy and society. Thanks.
Chen Wenjun:
This is the end of today's press conference. Thanks to all our spokespersons, and journalists from the media.
Yuan Jianjun:
I would also like to conclude by inviting you to be able to visit Zhejiang in person. All are welcome.
Chen Wenjun:
Thanks again.
Translated and edited by Zhang Liying, Wang Qian, Yang Xi, Zhang Junmian, Liu Jianing, Liu Qiang, Zhang Tingting, Huang Shan, Yang Xiaoqing, Yuan Fang, Zhang Rui, Li Huiru, Cui Can, Zhou Jing, 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.