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Since the beginning of this year, the information and communication sector has maintained a steady and rapid growth momentum, and its empowering effect has steadily emerged. Could you please introduce the specific achievements that have been made? Additionally, I would like to know the key arrangements for accelerating the development of the information industry in the future. Thank you.

Zhao Zhiguo:

I will answer this question. Thank you for your question. This year, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology has continued to implement strategies aimed at building up China's strength in manufacturing, cyberspace, and the digital field. We have consistently pushed to empower economic and social development through information and communication technologies, achieving positive results. I have highlighted the growth of the information and communication sector earlier in my introduction, and I will now delve into the empowering role of the sector from three perspectives.

First, the industry has driven the transformation and upgrade of the real economy by improving quality and enhancing efficiency. As a sign of accelerated application breakthroughs, new-generation information technologies, represented by the industrial internet, have been integrated into 45 major sectors of the national economy. This integration has propelled the digital, internet-powered, and intelligent upgrading of the real economy. The number of industrial internet platforms that span across industries and domains has reached 50. These are commonly referred to as "dual-cross" platforms and connect nearly 90 million sets of equipment. The widespread use of digital technologies has profoundly altered the production methods and forms of traditional industries, effectively promoting comprehensive data circulation and flow. According to a survey, 85% of surveyed enterprises have witnessed a significant boost in production efficiency, demonstrated by a 20% reduction in production line time.

Second, the industry has facilitated the building of a digital society, characterized by universal and convenient services. Technologies such as 5G, artificial intelligence, and the Internet of Things have been deeply integrated into education, healthcare, and other fields, leading to a significant improvement in the digitization of public services. We have launched 109 pilot projects for "5G + smart education," consistently introducing digital application scenarios, including smart classrooms, smart teaching and research, and distance education. Supply of remote diagnosis, online consultations, and smart medical devices has been continuously enriched, enabling the widespread access to efficient and convenient smart healthcare services. The construction of digital rural areas has been accelerated, with the internet penetration rate in rural regions surpassing 60%. Consequently, the gap in internet penetration between urban and rural areas has been steadily decreasing.

Third, the industry has enhanced people's sense of happiness and fulfillment by delivering innovative applications. Digital technologies, such as ultra-high-definition video, digital rendering, and holographic interaction, have swiftly proliferated and found widespread applications in fields such as sports broadcasting, culture, and tourism, delivering premium and novel experiences to the public. The recently concluded 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou showcased innovative applications such as 8K ultra-high-definition video live streaming, VR spectating, transparent mega screens, ground projections, massive video interactions both inside and outside the venue, and 360-degree replays. These features provided an immersive and multi-perspective visual spectacle for audiences worldwide.

Going forward, we will continue to implement the decisions and plans of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council, coordinate development and security, strengthen strategic planning, and improve approaches and measures to inject new driving forces into high-quality economic and social development. First, we will accelerate the development of internet infrastructure. We will coordinate the development of "dual-gigabit" internet, which features a 5G network and a gigabit optical network. We will expand the deployment of 5G, the gigabit optical network, the mobile internet of things and Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6), amid efforts to accelerate the building of "dual-gigabit" cities. We will launch signal upgrade initiatives to improve 5G network coverage and service quality in key industries and major application scenarios. Second, we will accelerate the industry's innovative development. We will prioritize applications and the complete equipment manufacturing to seek breakthroughs in core communication chips and key RF devices, and accelerate the lightweight 5G technology evolution, product development, and industrialization abilities to strengthen the support of industries. Third, we will step up efforts to unleash the empowerment effects of applications. We will promote the close synergy between the industrial internet and key industrial chains and promote the transformation of the industrial internet from useful to effective usages to empower the upgrading of the real economy. We will also promote applications of the "dual-gigabit" network in information consumption and areas that are important to people's lives to ensure that the fruits of information technology development can benefit all people fairly. Fourth, we will continue to improve the environment for our industrial development. We will deepen the reform of the market access system, promote applications of electronic licenses and certificates for telecommunications business operations, improve the multi-level legal systems for market supervision, expand the opening up of the telecommunications market in an orderly manner, and strive to create a market-oriented, law-based and internationalized business environment. Thank you.