The Beijing News: 

In recent years, China's digital economy has prospered and achieved remarkable accomplishments. The report to the 20th CPC National Congress made important deployments on accelerating the development of the digital economy and further integrating it with the real economy. What measures will the MIIT take to promote integration? Thank you!

Jin Zhuanglong:

Thank you for your question. The digital economy is of great concern to all of us, and the concept of digital economy is comprehensive and covers a wide range of areas. The current new round of scientific and technological revolution and industrial transformation is booming. Integrating the digital and real economies profoundly transforms economic forms, manufacturing methods and business organization models. I believe the full integration of IT applications with industrialization is the key area of integrated development of the digital and real economies. China's industrial economy is large, and the scale of its digital economy ranks second in the world, with broad prospects for integrated development. We will focus on the strategic goals of building up strength in manufacturing, cyberspace and digital technologies in China, targeting the innovation, breakthrough, and extended application of digital technologies, so as to boost the integrated development of IT applications and industrialization. In summary, this involves three main aspects: network platforms, digital industries, and integrated development.

First, we will solidly promote the construction of network infrastructure. China has built the world's largest, technologically advanced network infrastructure and the gigabit network access covers all prefecture-level cities. This year, we will further implement the gigabit city construction action. Recently, we held a gigabit city summit forum to guide local governments and the business circle to accelerate the construction with increased investments to further extend the coverage of 5G and gigabit optical fiber networks. We will also research and develop a computing infrastructure development action plan and strengthen the construction of industrial internet infrastructure.

Second, we will accelerate the development of core industries of digital economy. In 2022, China's electronic information manufacturing industry achieved an operating income of 15.4 trillion yuan, with software related income reaching 10.8 trillion yuan, laying a solid industrial and technological foundation for the integrated development of IT applications and industrialization. We will accelerate the development of artificial intelligence, big data, blockchain, cloud computing, cyberspace security and other emerging digital industries. We will also guide and support enterprises to increase investment in research and development and upgrade industries such as communication equipment, core electronic components, and ultra-high-definition displays. We will promote the high-quality development of the integrated circuit and industrial software industries. We will build high-standard software colleges with unique features and establish reputable software industrial parks in China.

Third, we will vigorously advance the digital transformation of the manufacturing industry. We will formulate a digital transformation roadmap for key industries and cultivate such enterprises that serve as models for others to follow regarding digital transformation. We will implement an action plan to boost 5G development, deepen the integrated application of 5G technologies and the industrial internet, promote the application of industrial internet in industrial parks, and create factories thoroughly equipped with 5G technologies. We will implement a smart manufacturing partnership program and take action to promote standardization in the area so as to build world leading smart factories and smart supply chains and develop new models and new business forms, such as service-oriented manufacturing. That's all for my answer. Thank you!

Shou Xiaoli:

Thank you, Mr. Jin. Thank you to all the speakers and friends from the media. This is the end of today's press conference. Goodbye, everyone.

Translated and edited by Zhu Bochen, Li Huiru, Wang Qian, Xu Xiaoxuan, Ma Yujia, He Shan, Qin Qi, Liu Caiyi, Liu Sitong, Mi Xingang, Huang Shan, Lin Liyao, Zhang Rui, Duan Yaying, Wang Yanfang, Yan Bin, Liu Qiang, Liu Jianing, Zhou Jing, David Ball, Tom Arnsten, and Jay Birbeck. In case of any discrepancy between the English and Chinese texts, the Chinese version is deemed to prevail.