Hong Kong Bauhinia Magazine:

There has been significant social attention paid to the state of information and communication services. May I ask, how is the progress in this field at present? What are the considerations for the next steps? Thank you.

Zhao Zhiguo:

Thank you for your questions. Information and communication services are closely related to the immediate interests of the general public and can be felt directly. The MIIT upholds a people-centered approach for development and implements practical measures to improve people's livelihoods. In the first three quarters of this year, we focused on optimizing and enhancing service provision, user experience, and responsiveness, and enriched service applications. The number of available apps reached 2.61 million, accompanied by 7 million mini-programs. The mobile internet sector continues to expand service areas and scenarios. A total of 1,924 websites and apps commonly used by the elderly, along with over 140 million smartphones and smart TVs, have undergone elderly-friendly transformations and upgrades, ensuring that elderly and disabled individuals can fully enjoy the benefits of a digital life. User experience has been enhanced by promoting online and remote handling of telecommunication services and enhancing mobile internet application services. Key internet applications improved user experience throughout the whole process of service and continued to standardize services. In addition, the responsiveness to user demands has become more efficient, with widespread utilization of video customer services by enterprises offering basic telecommunications services, enabling smoother user interaction. Furthermore, mechanisms related to the internet information service complaint platform have been improved to facilitate timely responses to user demands.

Next, we will focus on the following areas of work.

First is to optimize services to enhance user experience. We will deepen efforts to enhance mobile internet application services, promote and publicize exemplary cases, and improve user experience through enhanced services. We will provide more convenience for domestic and international users through high-quality and globally-oriented digital services. We will develop and implement action plans related to the elderly-friendly adaptation of digital technologies, promoting 5G, artificial intelligence, big data, and other information technologies to fully expand accessibility of information services and ensure equal and full participation of elderly individuals and other groups with special needs in digital life.

Second is to intensify comprehensive regulation to safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of the people. We will continue to regulate services such as software installation and uninstallation, operation and interaction, service renewal, and complaint handling, addressing prominent issues that have received strong public feedback. We will promote coordination and collaboration among the mobile internet application industry's upstream and downstream sectors, including application stores, SDK, and mobile terminals, to enhance overall service quality and standards. We will persistently combat spam messages, implement the "card cutting campaign," strengthen the 12381 warning system, and offer one-stop registration query services, effectively safeguarding people's property security and legitimate rights and interests.

Third is to establish a sound long-term mechanism to create a healthy service environment. We will improve policies, measures, and standards and norms, research and develop compliance guidelines for telecommunications and internet services, and release a series of compliance standards for app development and operation. These efforts will provide clearer guidance for enterprises to conduct their business activities. We will fully leverage the foundational role of credit supervision, improve the credit scoring mechanism in the information and communication industry, and promote enterprises to operate in accordance with the law and with integrity. We will provide guidance to relevant industry stakeholders in areas such as technical support, testing and certification, and compliance and audits, fostering a pattern of society-wide co-governance. Thank you.