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Read in Chinese
Speakers:
Yang Xiaowei, vice minister of the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC)
Guo Ningning, vice governor of Fujian province
You Mengjun, mayor of Fuzhou Municipal People's Government
Sun Wei, a person in charge of the Department of High-Tech Industry of the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC)
Yang Yuyan, a person in charge of the Department of Information Technology Development of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT)
Gou Ping, head of the Bureau of Sci-Tech Innovation and Social Responsibility of the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council (SASAC)
Chairperson:
Chen Wenjun, head of the Press Bureau of the State Council Information Office (SCIO) and spokesperson of the SCIO
Date:
March 19, 2021
Chen Wenjun:
Ladies and gentlemen, good morning! The 4th Digital China Summit will take place in Fuzhou, Fujian province from April 25 to 26. As in previous years, the State Council Information Office (SCIO) is holding a press conference to brief you on preparations for this summit and other related issues and field your questions.
Today we have with us: Yang Xiaowei, vice minister of the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC); Guo Ningning, vice governor of Fujian province, You Mengjun, mayor of Fuzhou Municipal People's Government; Sun Wei, a person in charge of the Department of High-Tech Industry of the National Development and Reform Commission (NCRC); Yang Yuyan, a person in charge of the Department of Information Technology Development of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT); and Gou Ping, head of the Bureau of Sci-Tech Innovation and Social Responsibility of the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council (SASAC). Next, I will give the floor to Mr. Yang.
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Yang Xiaowei:
Ladies and gentlemen, friends from the media, good morning! It is a great pleasure to meet with you all again at this press conference regarding the Digital China Summit. I would like to thank all the reporters paying attention to the 4th Digital China Summit. The summit has been held successfully three times and has played a significant leading role in promoting both the application of information technology in China and digital development in Fujian.
At present, under the strong leadership of the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core and with the joint efforts of people across the nation, China has made strategic achievement in its nationwide epidemic control. Also, China has scored a complete victory in its fight against poverty and attained decisive achievements in securing a victory in building a moderately prosperous society in all respects. With the approval of the CPC Central Committee, the 4th Digital China Summit will be held in in Fuzhou, Fujian province from April 25 to 26 this year. The summit is co-organized by the CAC, NDRC, MIIT, SASAC and Fujian Provincial People's Government; and will be hosted by the Fuzhou Municipal People's Government and relevant institutions.
The CPC Central Committee and the State Council attach great importance to the construction of Digital China. The county has specified tasks to speed up digital development and build Digital China in the Outline of the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025) for National Economic and Social Development and the Long-Range Objectives Through the Year 2035, adopted at the fourth session of the 13th National People's Congress a few days ago. At a time when China has made important strategic progress in the battle to contain the virus, and achieved positive results in coordinating the fight against the virus with economic and social development, especially in the year which marks the beginning of the 14th Five-Year Plan and the 100th anniversary of the founding of the CPC, it is of crucial significance to hold the 4th Digital China Summit. It will further encourage all sectors to actively participate in the new journey of building Digital China with enthusiasm and creativity.
The summit, themed "New Potential for Data and New Journey of Digital China," aims to serve as a platform for releasing information development policies; showcasing the latest achievements of Digital China; boosting communication regarding theories, experiences and practices of e-governance and the digital economy; and promoting cooperation with global partners in the development of Digital China and the Digital Silk Road. The summit will consist of seven sessions: the opening ceremony, the main forum, sub-forums, an achievement expo, an innovation contest, policy release, and a signing ceremony for projects. In the meantime, discussions such as "Outlook for Fuzhou" and "Minjiang Dialogue" will be held. The summit will set up a "Cloud Summit" platform, and host both online and offline events. Important guests who can't attend the main forum and sub-forums in-person will be invited to address the summit, deliver keynote speeches, or participate in dialogue via video link or pre-recorded videos. The Digital China Innovation Contest will be run online with online entry and online judging, but the prize will be awarded offline at the summit. A virtual exhibition hall will also be set up along with the achievement expo. Media outlets will be invited to live-stream or record important events at the summit.
The 4th Digital China Summit will commence in less than a month, with preparations for the event progressing in an orderly manner. The organizing committee will strictly observe the central Party leadership's eight-point decision on improving work conduct, implement regular prevention and control measures, and adhere to the principles of frugality, efficiency and safety in organizing the summit. People from all sectors are very much welcome to participate. We look forward to the successful convening of the 4th Digital China Summit. Thank you.
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Chen Wenjun:
Next, the floor is given to Ms. Guo.
Guo Ningning:
Friends from the media, good morning! I would like to thank the SCIO for organizing the press conference on this summit, and also our friends from the media and all sectors for your attention and support for the Digital China Summit. It's my pleasure to brief you on the preparations for the event.
With three consecutive sessions successfully held in Fujian province, the summit has become an important platform for the construction and development of Digital China, and has produced positive outcomes in displaying digital innovations, communicating and implementing digital projects, and developing digital industries. Its fourth session will kick off in Fuzhou on April 25, to which the Fujian Provincial Party Committee and government have attached great importance. We will always follow the major strategy and innovative practices of Digital Fujian proposed by General Secretary Xi Jinping in 2000, and keep in mind his generous care and earnest expectations for Fujian's development, especially for Digital Fujian, and his ardent remarks on benefiting society and people with information and digital technologies. We will fully implement the spirit of the congratulatory messages from the General Secretary to the two previous sessions, and prepare for the fourth session with devotion under the thorough guidance and strong support of the CAC, the NDRC, the MIIT, and the SASAC. Preparations have now entered the final stretch, and as the host, we will present a splendid digital event by further improving our services.
The theme of the fourth session is "New Potential for Data and New Journey of Digital China." We will highlight its features and host it both offline and online over an optimized Cloud Summit platform, to provide guests and friends unable to attend with an immersive experience of participation. The Digital China Innovation Contest will add up to eight competition categories, in which many leading digital companies and well-known universities and colleges will take part. We have invited three sister provinces — Sichuan, Anhui, and Guangxi — to be its guests of honor to showcase their digital construction achievements and industrial development. We will enrich and improve the session from the following four aspects based on the sound experience of the previous three sessions.
First, we will make it an event for displaying new digital applications. We will build a cloud exhibition hall with dedication, incorporate more interactive experiences with virtual products, and demonstrate 5G+8K ultra-high-definition videos and technologies like holographic projection, to endow the cloud platform with new features. We will adopt technologies such as contactless face recognition and one-code access, to offer smart services throughout the event. We will also open online and offline exhibition halls for daily displays of the event's highlights and outcomes, as well as the latest and most cutting-edge digital technologies, to present a summit that never ends.
Second, we will make it an event for experiencing new ideas with digital activities. This year's session will comprise a main forum and 20 sub-forums. The number of sub-forums will hit a new high. For the first time, China's ministries and state-owned enterprises (SOEs) will host multiple sub-forums on digital villages, the Digital Silk Road, new urban infrastructure, the digital transformation of SOEs, cybersecurity and information security, and more. Leading digital companies will hold over 20 activities such as "Outlook for Fuzhou" on the city's Sanfang Qixiang historical and cultural street to highlight the interactions between traditional culture and modern digital technology. There will also be a "Minjiang Dialogue," an academician and expert trip, and a digital village seminar, at which an innovative development path for a Digital China will be discussed.
Third, we will make it an event for seizing new opportunities empowered by digital development. The summit will contribute to building a Digital China with its spillover effect. The national-level pilot zone for innovation and development of the digital economy, the innovation center launched by BRICS countries in Xiamen, and the Maritime Silk Road Satellite Data Service Center have brought along new opportunities for high-quality development. This session will continue pooling experts in the digital field, showcasing digital application scenarios, releasing digital development policies, matchmaking digital industry projects, and actively serve the new development paradigm as a platform for cooperation in the digital economy industry across the country.
Fourth, we will make it an event for experiencing the new life amid digital transformation. More government organizations, companies, and public institutions will bring innovations in digital government, digital society, digital culture, smart cities, and digital villages, especially focusing on the scenarios of developing and using big data resources, and displaying brand new practices of smart life in the digital age. I believe you are bound to have a more dazzling and cooler new experience.
Fujian is now working on a plan specially for Digital Fujian during the 14th Five-Year Plan period at a high starting point with the benefits brought by digital transformation. We are accelerating the construction of a national-level pilot zone for the innovation and development of the digital economy and plan to be the No. 1 province for digital applications. We are deepening cooperation along the Digital Silk Road, and promoting all-round high-quality development on a new journey of building Digital Fujian.
We sincerely invite friends, both old and new, to visit Fujian and Fuzhou and attend the grand event to pursue a better future together.
Thank you.
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Chen Wenjun:
The floor is now open for questions. Please name the news outlet you work for before asking questions.
CCTV:
We noticed that the Outline of the 14th Five-Year Plan and the Long-Range Objectives Through the Year 2035 proposed to accelerate digital development and build a Digital China. Can you brief us on building a Digital China during the 13th Five-Year Plan period and the new measures to be taken during the 14th Five-Year Plan period? Thank you.
Yang Xiaowei:
Since the 18th CPC National Congress, the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has laid great emphasis on building China into a cyber power and a digital country. After the release of the Outline for National IT Application Development and the National IT Application Plan during the 13th Five-Year Plan period, China's Cyberspace Administration and related departments have implemented the strategic plan and continuously conducted monitoring and assessment of the work on building a Digital China. During past years, we have released the Report on the Development Process of Building a Digital China in succession and achieved great progress in building a Digital China. The achievements are mainly as follows:
First, we are now global leaders in information infrastructure construction. Our country has built the world's largest fiber-optic network and 4G network. The netizen population increased from 688 million by the end of 2015 to 989 million by the end of 2020. During the same period, the internet service popularization rate increased from 50.3% to 70.4%. The commercialization of 5G has picked up speed, with nearly 720,000 5G base stations completed and more than 200 million 5G terminals connected. The large-scale deployment of IPV6 in China has also been very effective.
Second, the innovation capacity of information technology continues to improve. Significant progress has been made in the research and development of some of our basic and general technologies, and the development of integrated circuit manufacturing, equipment and materials has been accelerated. 5G artificial intelligence (AI), as well as domestic high-performance computing and quantum computing, have made significant scientific research achievements. China's Innovation Index jumped from 29th place in 2015 to 14th place at the end of last year.
Third, the vitality of the development of the digital economy continues to increase. The digital economy continues to grow rapidly, and the quality and effectiveness of our digital economy development has been significantly enhanced. New formats and models keep emerging, and by the end of last year, the value added of the core capacity of the digital economy accounted for 7.8% of the GDP.
Fourth, the efficiency of e-government services has significantly improved. E-government has strongly supported the modernization of China's governance system and governance capacity, and the level of public services has continued to improve. As you know, in the last year, China's e-government development index improved its global ranking by 20 places compared to 2018. China's online service index has climbed to the 9th place globally, reaching a very high level.
Fifth, we accelerated IT popularization to bring convenience and benefits to the people. By the end of last year, the internet access rate in primary and middle schools across China had reached 100% and the long-distance medical collaboration network had covered 24,000 medical institutions. All the targets of internet access in relation to poverty alleviation were completed by the end of last year. Steady progress was made in the building of "digital villages", injecting new digitalized and IT application impetus to rural vitalization.
Sixth, international cooperation in regards to cyberspace was deepened. China proposed and launched the G20 Digital Economy Development and Cooperation Initiative, the Initiative on Belt and Road Digital Economy Cooperation, the Global Data Security Initiative and so on, thus contributing Chinese strength and plans to global digital economic development and cyberspace governance.
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Yang Xiaowei:
The reporter just mentioned the 14th Five-Year Plan. In the next stage we will implement the decisions and deployments of the CPC Central Committee and carry out the Outline of the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025) for National Economic and Social Development and the Long-Range Objectives Through the Year 2035. Right now, we are compiling the National IT Application Plan during the 14th Five-Year Plan period and we plan to make efforts in nine aspects as follows:
First, we will accelerate the optimization and upgrading of information infrastructure and the deployment of the 5G network on a large scale; make layouts for 6G network technology reserves in advance; and promote the deployment of IPV6 application on a large scale.
Second, we will invigorate the vitality of digital elements; and accelerate the formulation of fundamental systems, norms and rules of digital resource circulation, cross-border transmission and security protection.
Third, we will set up innovation systems to unleash digital productivity; accelerate the innovative application of digital technologies; and improve systems and mechanisms regarding scientific and technological innovation.
Fourth, we will accelerate digital industrialization and industrialized digitalization. We will promote the integration of digital technologies in the real economy, thus forging new competitiveness in the digital economy across China.
Fifth, we will accelerate the pace of building a digital society, promote the construction of new-type smart cities and "digital villages" and build a digital lifestyle that can be enjoyed by all.
Sixth, we will increase the digitalization level of the government, improve the national administrative system, give full play to the function of the government and significantly boost administrative efficiency and public trust.
Seventh, we will develop convenient digitalized services to benefit all people, and enhance multi-layer social security systems to strengthen people's sense of gain continuously.
Eighth, we will advance mutually beneficial and win-win international cooperation in the digital field and jointly build a community with a shared future in cyberspace.
Ninth, we will establish inclusive and prudent digitalized development governance systems, and create a favorable digital development environment. During the 14th Five-Year Plan period, we will make efforts in the above-mentioned nine aspects. Thank you for your question.
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Bauhinia Magazine:
The Digital China Summit has been held in Fuzhou for three years. How effective has Fuzhou been in developing the digital economy in recent years, and what are the plans and considerations for further promoting Fuzhou's digital economy in the future? Thank you.
You Mengjun:
Thank you for your question and your concern about Fuzhou. As early as 2000, General Secretary Xi Jinping, then-governor of Fujian province, put forward the strategic concept of building a Digital Fujian. During the past few years, following the instructions of General Secretary Xi and the deployments of the CPC Fujian Provincial Committee and the Fujian provincial government, Fuzhou has concentrated on developing its digital economy and has grasped the Digital China Summit as an opportunity. Thanks to all these efforts, the volume of the city's digital economy increased to 460 billion yuan in 2020 from 280 billion yuan in 2018 with the average annual growth rate surpassing 25%. The proportion of the digital economy in local GDP has been raised to over 45% from 36%. At present, there are 37 listed enterprises in the digital economy located in Fuzhou. We have focused on the following five areas:
First, we have carried out two special programs. One is a three-year initiative on building "Digital Fuzhou," which consists of 137 key projects in the areas of e-government service and data resources. The other one is a three-year action plan for new infrastructure, which includes 175 key projects of information infrastructure with the total investment valuing more than 230 billion yuan.
Second, we have established five industrial bases, focusing on big data, the Internet of Things, software, displays and photoelectricity. Many excellent enterprises in the digital economy such as BOE, Inspur, NetDragon, Bitmain and Guomai Tech have settled in the city, earning Fuzhou the title of "China's famous software city."
Third, we have accelerated the empowerment of digital technology. In traditional industry, more than 2000 companies have taken part in cloud-based platforms. We have fostered eight province-level industrial internet demonstration platforms including Morewis Cloud and Histron Cloud, 24 application benchmarking companies, and 188 provincial-level "Internet Plus" manufacturing projects. In the emerging industrial field, we have 360 AI-related companies and 523 blockchain-related companies. The Kunpeng Industrial Ecosystem is being applied first in Fuzhou.
Fourth, we have set up public service platforms for the digital economy. Basic supporting platforms including China-Fuzhou Internet of Things Open Lab, National Internet backbone access points and two major projects for the Digital Fujian Cloud Computing Center have been established. Sci-tech innovation platforms focusing on large-scale supercomputers, AI and optoelectronic information science and technology have been built. Industry-university-research cooperation platforms including the Tsinghua-Fuzhou Institute of Data Technology and the Southeast Research Institute of Express Big Data of the State Post Bureau have been introduced in Fuzhou.
The fifth thing is to build Fuzhou into a number one digital application city. In the aspect of e-government applications, we provide immediate and one-stop services based on the "Internet Plus Government Services" model to ensure that people can get things done through apps or through single visits to any related department within the city. At present, Fuzhou ranks 28th among Chinese cities for its business convenience, and stands at 4th place in the ranking of digital government development among provincial capital cities in China. In terms of urban management, we have built an intelligent drainage-water system and coordination center around the "city brain" and launched the country's first city-level public service platform for facial recognition. Fuzhou has been awarded the "China's Leading Smart City Award" for five consecutive years. In the aspect of services related to people's livelihoods, we have created "e-Fuzhou" public service model which provides transportation, educational, medical, community and other services. We are gradually enabling our citizens to experience new services and new lifestyles with the application of information technology.
After years of accumulation, Fuzhou's digital economy has already gained a solid foundation. Next, we will continue to implement General Secretary Xi Jinping's strategic thought on building a digital China in earnest with special gratitude and responsibility. In the future, "Digital Fuzhou" will remain our main direction of economic development. Becoming the number one city for digital applications will continue to be our working strategy, and building Fuzhou into a digital demonstration city in China will always be our goal. We will enhance our efforts in the following three areas. First, we will concentrate on cloud computing, big data, Internet of Things, AI and blockchain, and promote digital industrialization and industry digitalization in traditional industries such as textiles, chemical fibers, machinery manufacturing, metallurgical and building materials. Second, we will accelerate construction of information infrastructure, including supercomputing, storage and digital centers. Third, we will provide more and better applications for digital education, digital culture and tourism, and digital health care.
In short, we will continue to expand the platform effect of the Digital China Summit, make all-out efforts to develop the digital economy, and promote all-round and high-quality development in Fuzhou. Thank you.
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Guangming Daily:
Many aspects of Fujian's digital economy such as 5G, blockchain, AI, and big data have been well developed. What are the specialties of Fujian's digital economy? What industries will you focus on supporting next?
Guo Ningning:
Thank you for your question. In 2019, Fujian became one of the six national-level pilot zones for innovation and development of the digital economy. We have carefully studied and made action plans for the pilot zone to speed up the development of digital infrastructure, digital industries, digital trade, and digital consumption, striving to contribute Fujian's experience and plans to China's digital economic development. The advantages of Fujian to develop its digital economy can be summarized into the following six aspects.
First, through the construction of platforms. Fujian is located in a core maritime silk road area and boasts several national-level platforms such as the Fujian Pilot Free Trade Zone, the Xiamen BRICS innovation base, the digital service export base, and the comprehensive cross-border e-commerce pilot zone. The various advantages of multiple platforms have greatly supported the innovative development of the digital economy.
Second, through the development of industries. The output values of Fujian's key industries such as the Internet of Things and AI have all exceeded 100 billion yuan. Key digital parks such as the Digital Fujian Industrial Park, the Fuzhou Software Park, and the Xiamen Software Park have become large industry clusters and hubs for the innovative development of digital industries.
Third, we have created channels. Fujian has opened several international logistics routes, such as Silk Road Sea Transport and Silk Road Air Transport as well as the China-Europe Railway Express, becoming an important link connecting the land and maritime silk roads. Domestically, we have built a "two verticals and three horizontals" comprehensive transportation system and several "information highways" such as the Cross-Straits Optical Fiber Cable No. 1 and the national-level internet backbone direct connection point.
Fourth, we have built infrastructure. Fujian has planned new infrastructure early on and its new infrastructure index ranks within the top five nationally. The Digital Fujian Cloud Computing Center and Super Computing Center have been completed. 5G base stations cover all areas above county level, including major villages and towns. All cities have met standards for the high-level optical network cities.
Fifth, we have made supportive policies. To support digital economic development, Fujian has gradually rolled out a slew of policies concerning the industrial internet, satellite application, digital silk roads, intelligent manufacturing, and new infrastructure to improve the environment for advancing the digital economy.
Sixth, we have fostered further potential. Fujian's digital economy has constantly accelerated the pace of development, transformation and upgrading. The provincial digital economy in 2020 reached 2 trillion yuan, an increase of 15%. It accounted for 45% of the provincial GDP. It is estimated that by the end of the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2025), the added value of the digital economy will exceed 4 trillion yuan, accounting for nearly 60% of the provincial GDP, a significant increase. It is therefore a crucial engine for the high-quality development of Fujian's economy.
In the future, we will further advance the development of the digital economy and focus on implementing the following six measures. First, we will achieve breakthroughs in a batch of core technologies such as cutting-edge chips, core electronic components, and basic materials. We plan to build more than 100 high-level digital innovation platforms, with an emphasis on digital transformation of key industries. Second, a batch of digital innovation application scenarios will be generated. We will speed up the applications of AI, blockchain and 5G technologies, promote commercialized demonstrations and applications and build ourselves into the "No. 1 province in digital applications." Third, we will promote a batch of featured digital industries. Digital industry clusters regarding the building of "Smart Ocean," satellite applications, and ultra-high-definition videos will see accelerated development in a bid to advance digital industrialization and the high-quality development of digital industries. Fourth, we will foster a batch of pioneering digital companies. We have implemented a dedicated campaign for the cultivation of digital innovative companies and plan to foster more than 3,000 pioneering companies and digital innovative companies by 2022. Fifth, we will establish a batch of demonstration areas as pacesetters for digital development, launch actions to improve digital economic zones, and establish core areas for opening-up and cooperation in building "digital silk road." Sixth, we will explore a batch of digital innovative mechanisms to ease access to the digital economic market and advance legislative procedures regarding Fujian province's big data regulations. We plan to establish big data companies and effective allocation mechanism for the production factor of data to improve the digital economic environment and inject new momentum into the all-round and high-quality development of Fujian. Thank you.
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Beijing Daily:
The 14th Five-Year Plan has dedicated a whole chapter to digital development. What will the relevant departments do to advance digital economic development and the building of "Digital China" ? Thank you.
Yang Yuyan:
Thank you for your question. As you said, the 14th Five-Year Plan has dedicated a whole chapter to speeding up digitalization and building a digital China, and has set specific targets and requirements that show that the CPC Central Committee and the State Council have attached great importance to building a digital China. In recent years, under the strong leadership of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council, the MIIT has markedly boosted digital economic development. During the 13th Five-Year Plan period (2016-2020), China's digital economy registered a growth rate of 16.6%, laying a solid foundation to build a digital China.
First, industrial foundation has been improved. As Mr. Yang mentioned, we have built the largest optical cable network and 4G network in the world. The number of terminal devices connected to the 5G network has exceeded 200 million. Fast development has been witnessed in areas such as the software and IT service sector, the electronic information manufacturing sector, and the communication service sector. Taking software as an example, the sector raked in an accumulated revenue of 8.16 trillion yuan in 2020, an increase of 13.3% year on year.
Second, the pace of digital transformation continues to accelerate. In terms of manufacturing, we have vigorously promoted the construction of the industrial internet. Currently, there are more than 80 industrial internet platforms with various influences in the country, and the number of industrial apps exceeds 350,000, which strongly supports the industry's improvement in quality, cost reduction, and efficiency. In terms of information consumption, we are actively cultivating and promoting new data-driven models and business forms. Especially during the period of COVID-19 pandemic prevention and control, online education, telecommuting, and online shopping, among others, have all played a very important role.
Third, we continue to optimize China's environment for development. We have pushed to issue a series of documents, such as the "Several Policies to Promote High-quality Development of Integrated Circuit Industry and Software Industry in the New Era," as well as formulated a batch of national standards, such as the data management capability maturity assessment model. Additionally, we have guided local governments to promote national comprehensive experimental zones for big data, and promote the construction of landmark software industry cities, accelerating the agglomeration and development of the digital industry.
In the next step, under the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, the MIIT will follow the trends of digitalization, networking, and intelligent development, and accelerate the construction of a digital China. Focus will be put on the following three aspects.
The first is to promote the digital industry to become bigger and stronger. We will focus on the seven key digital industries and ten digital application scenarios listed in the outline for the 14th Five-Year Plan. We will use applications as the driving force to promote the development of emerging strategic industries, such as big data, AI, and blockchain. We will also focus on cultivating an ecosystem for open-source software, and create an internationally competitive digital industry cluster.
The second is to promote the deepening and solid implementation of digital transformation. We will more deeply embed next-generation IT into the manufacturing sector, and use digitalization to drive changes in production methods. We will expand and upgrade information consumption, speed up the construction of information accessibility, and drive lifestyle changes with digitization to benefit people's life and work.
The third measure is to gradually improve the digital ecosystem. We will continue to improve the data management capabilities of enterprises and public institutions, and consolidate the foundations for data processing. We will cultivate big data trading platforms, explore various forms of data transaction models, and promote data circulation. We will effectively collect, manage, and use data, and activate the value of data elements.
At the upcoming Digital China Summit, the MIIT will host five sub-forums across topics such as big data, digital technology innovation, open-source software ecosystem, the industrial internet, and digital society. Here, I also sincerely invite everyone to actively participate in these sub-forums, have in-depth exchanges, and jointly contribute to the construction of digital China. Thank you.
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New York Times:
Fuzhou was one of the first cities in China to develop close ties with the United States. Back in the 1800s, many American families, including my mother's family, moved to Fuzhou to do volunteer work in education and medicine as American missionaries. How has Fuzhou's history in education and in having international ties made a difference today in its economic development and in its digital development? Thank you.
You Mengjun:
Thank you very much for your question. Fuzhou has a relatively long history of foreign exchanges. Since the middle of the 19th century, it has established contacts with many countries, including the United States. Especially after the reform and opening up, Fuzhou has continued to strengthen exchanges with cities from all over the world in the fields of economy, trade, and culture, realizing close cooperation, mutual benefit, and a win-win situation among all parties. With China opening its door wider and wider, Fuzhou very much hopes to continue to strengthen exchanges with countries and regions around the world, and to serve as a bridge to help form friendships between various peoples.
Regarding the impact of the Digital China Summit on the economy and society of Fuzhou, I think it will be extensive, profound, and everlasting. The Digital China Summit allows us to firmly position digitalization as a leading force in Fuzhou's industrial development, make us more determined and confident in the development of the digital economy, and make our industrial transformation and upgrading faster and faster so that our citizens can also enjoy increasingly convenient public services. We believe that with more summits to be held in the future, more new opportunities and changes will be brought to Fuzhou, and will help Fuzhou achieve faster and better development. Thank you again for your question.
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The Poster News APP:
From the "Two Sessions" to the March 15 Consumer Day Gala, issues of data privacy and security have been consistently raised. With the advent of the digital economy era, data has become a new type of production factor and social wealth, and will be continuously shared, analyzed, and utilized. But it also means that personal privacy has become a primary concern in digital societies. In the future, what considerations will be taken to improve data security and privacy protection in the big data environment? Thank you.
Yang Xiaowei:
The CPC and the central government attach great importance to data security, personal information protection, and digital privacy. Over the past few years, we have continued to strengthen data security and personal privacy protections amid the rapid development of big data. We have implemented several important measures:
First, we continued to implement the Cybersecurity Law nationwide. We further strengthened coordination in policies, laws, and supervisions. We are stepping up efforts to formulate a data security law and a personal information protection law to ensure data security and individual privacy protection from a lawful perspective.
Second, we continued to enhance protection capabilities for the nation's critical information infrastructure, strengthened data security early warning and traceability systems, and comprehensively improved the data security protection of key information in key national sectors.
Third, we are stepping up efforts to formulate relevant regulations and criteria to establish systems for the confirmation, opening, circulation, and trading of data resources to further improve data property rights protection in terms of these operating mechanisms. This will provide institutional support for data security and the protection of individual privacy and personal information.
Fourth, we intensified efforts to enforce data security and personal information protection. In recent years, as you have seen and reported, we worked with relevant departments to step up efforts to protect technical patents, data copyright, individual data privacy, and continued rectification.
Fifth, we enhanced the publicity of data security. The Cyberspace Security Publicity Week, approved by the CPC Central Committee to take place every September, have given rise to an understanding throughout society about data security, protection of personal information, and individual privacy, and has safeguarded the vital interests of the people. Thank you.
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Economic Daily:
SOEs are an important pillar of the national economy, and their digital transformation has attracted much attention. Could you brief us on what important measures will be taken next? Thank you.
Gou Ping:
Thank you for your question and concern about the digital transformation of SOEs. The CPC Central Committee and the State Council attach great importance to digital development. General Secretary Xi Jinping has repeatedly made important instructions on how to build China's strength in cyberspace, develop a digital China, and boost the integration of the digital economy and the real economy. At the Fifth Plenary Session of the 19th CPC Central Committee and the recently concluded Two Sessions, China made systematic arrangements for accelerating digital development. The SASAC will fully implement the policy decisions and plans of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council, and advance the digital transformation of SOEs.
First, we will strengthen top-level design. The Notice on Accelerating the Digital Transformation of State-owned Enterprises was issued to clarify the significance, main tasks, and safeguards of the digital transformation of SOEs.
Second, we will step up efforts to make this transformation. We have made digital transformation a key task in the reform and development of central SOEs, invited heads of SOEs to give lectures on digital transformation, and held promotional activities. Additionally, we have set up a collaborative innovation platform for central SOEs involved in BeiDou, blockchain, digital, and e-commerce development.
Third, we will set up demonstrative models to play a leading role. We have selected and published 100 typical cases in eight categories from SOEs, including product and service innovation and intelligent production and operation, to promote mutual learning.
SOEs have responded positively. Overall, the digital transformation of SOEs has made positive progress, which can be summed up in the following three aspects. First, we have accelerated the construction of a new digital infrastructure, in which SOEs can give full play to their role as the main force in new infrastructure construction. We sped up the construction of new digital infrastructure such as 5G, big data centers, and the industrial internet. The application of the BeiDou system in the industry has been enriched. More than 80 central SOEs have built group-level data centers and established more than 60 industrial internet platforms represented by the CASICloud and CEC Industrial Internet. Three central telecom SOEs have built more than 700,000 5G base stations, and COMAC has built China's first plant with full 5G coverage.
Second, we will accelerate the digital transformation of industries. SOEs have deepened the integration of digital technology and production, making major headway in digital product innovation, intelligent production, smart user services, and industrial ecology. Two thirds of the R&D institutes of the central SOEs have achieved work in 3D digital modeling and simulation, and more than half have built collaborative digital ecological platforms for the industrial chain. China State Shipbuilding Group has designed and built the world's first smart ship certified by classification societies (China Classification Society and Lloyd's Register). China Baowu has built an unmanned factory to achieve quasi-unmanned crane operations. Meanwhile, the State Grid has built a new energy cloud platform to promote the coordinated development of more than 3,000 upstream and downstream enterprises.
Third, we will boost the industrial application of digital technologies. SOEs have focused on core electronic components, high-end chips, industrial software, among other key areas to strengthen target research, and made breakthroughs in CPU, FPGA, operating systems, and EDA. SOEs have fostered a digital industry with a focus on cloud computing, big data, the Internet of Things, AI, and blockchain. Nearly 60 central SOEs have set up digital industry companies and more than 70 central SOEs have registered an annual transaction volume of more than six trillion yuan in e-commerce business. A group of influential enterprises have been developed, including State Grid Information & Telecommunication Group, Shanghai Baosight Software, and Richfit.
Next, we will enhance communication and cooperation with relevant state departments and local governments. We will make joint efforts to organize the implementation of special action plans for SOE digital transformation, coordinate the progress of digital transformation of industries and the industrial application of digital technologies, and break through core technologies to foster digital application scenarios, build models for industrial transformation, and make new progress in the digital transformation of SOEs. Thank you.
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Cover News:
The SASAC recently issued a circular on speeding up efforts to promote the digital transformation of SOEs. The circular notes that China will intensify efforts to solve major R&D difficulties in the areas of core electronic components, high-end chips, and key software production. What are the specific plans? How will SOEs give full play to their advantages in this regard? Thank you.
Gou Ping:
Thank you for your questions. As you said and as I mentioned earlier, China is indeed weak in fields such as core electronic components, high-end chips, and key software production. The central SOEs have fully put into practice General Secretary Xi Jinping's important instructions on speeding up efforts to achieve breakthroughs in core technologies in key areas while acting in accordance with the decision and deployments made by the CPC Central Committee and the State Council. The central SOEs have focused on the key weaknesses, given full play to their advantages, and pooled great strength into further development. They have spared no efforts to expedite R&D activities and made positive progress. The SASAC has tried its best to help the central SOEs speed up efforts to make breakthroughs. In terms of strengthening guidance for assessment, increasing support for income distribution, establishing incentive mechanisms, and increasing capital support, we have strengthened policy support and provided guidance for enterprises to increase investment on R&D fronts. We have brought together factors for innovation and stimulated the drive for innovation to accelerate the pace of R&D breakthroughs. Meanwhile, we are also supporting professional mergers and acquisitions and corporate reorganization in the fields of core technologies with key links to be carried out in line with market principles. This will hopefully strengthen enterprises in the industrial and supply chain and improve the support capacity of our supply chain and the resilience of our industrial system. We also give full play to our institutional strength, which is to mobilize resources to accomplish major initiatives as well as the overall advantages of the central SOEs. We support central SOEs to take the lead and establish systemic, task-oriented innovation consortiums as well as industrial and technological innovation alliances in a bid to undertake major national sci-tech projects; promote further integration between enterprises, universities, research institutions, and consumers; and foster innovation along the industrial chain and among all sizes of enterprises. In particular, we encourage the central SOEs to harness their platform and application strengths to help all innovators in their R&D efforts and market applications and to promote the application of new technologies and products. The central SOEs already have some experience in this area and have made progress in collaborative innovation.
Next, the SASAC will focus on high-quality development and work to establish a new development paradigm. We will make sci-tech innovation a top priority and pool the resource and strength advantages of central SOEs to establish key areas for sci-tech breakthroughs, areas of development for original technologies, major hubs for sci-tech talents, and "special zones" for sci-tech innovation. We will make central SOEs a strategic strong point for national sci-tech industry and let them better play their part in speeding up efforts to make China a country of innovators in an effort to achieve self-reliance in science and technology.
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Beijing Youth Daily:
As China accelerates its efforts to build a digital society, the issue of the digital divide has become increasingly severe for the elderly. The MIIT said that a special campaign will be launched to help the elderly better adapt to online applications. What is the current status? Thank you.
Yang Yuyan:
Thank you for your question. This January, the MIIT launched a campaign to make online applications more elderly-friendly and barrier-free. The deployment work was recently finished and the campaign has been put into practice.
Next, we will follow the schedule and arrangement and focus on the actual needs of the elderly people; organize relevant parties to speed up the elderly-friendly and barrier-free adaptation work for websites and mobile applications; and establish an evaluation system to test the efficiency. It is estimated that by the end of this year, the first batch of qualified, barrier-free websites and mobile applications will be selected and released to the public. Thank you.
Guangming Online:
The outline of the 14th Five-Year Plan mentions that China will speed up efforts to build its digital economy. What are the policy considerations behind developing the digital economy? Thank you.
Sun Wei:
Thank you for your question. I also want to thank our friends from the media for your long-term interest in and support for the development of the digital economy. General Secretary Xi Jinping has attached great importance to the development of the digital economy, proposing to build a digital economy with data as a key element, and promoting and integrating the digital and real economies.
In recent years, the CPC Central Committee and the State Council have carried out a series of strategic measures such as building China's cyberspace strength, developing mechanisms for big data, and advancing Internet Plus initiatives, which have laid a solid foundation for the development of the digital economy. The just-concluded fourth session of the 13th National People's Congress has reviewed and adopted the outline of the 14th Five-Year Plan. It proposes accelerating digital development to build a digital China, making deployments for the development of the digital economy in the new era. The NDRC will fully implement the arrangements made by the CPC Central Committee and the State Council and work with relevant parties to put into practice the outline of the 14th Five-Year Plan and speed up the development of the digital economy. Our efforts in this regard will be made in the following six aspects.
First, the top-level design of the digital economy will be further strengthened. We will formulate special 14th five-year plans for the digital economy, strengthen the innovation and application of key digital technologies, accelerate digital industrialization and industrial digitalization, improve the digital governance system, and upgrade digital services. We will drive overall reforms in the ways of work, life, and governance through digital transformation and promote high-quality development.
Second, the construction of new types of infrastructure will be actively promoted to consolidate the development foundation of the digital economy. We will devise and introduce the 14th five-year plans for new infrastructure construction, enhance overall planning and coordination, refine the policy environment, and increase support. We will speed up the establishment of a collaborative innovation system for national integrated big data centers and promote high-quality and green development of data centers and 5G.
Third, the cultivation of the data factor market will be accelerated. We will give play to the key role of factors of data production, activate the potential for data production, and further improve the data ecology. We will work out and release guiding documents to develop the data factor market and build and improve the systems, standards, and norms in this field, including in areas of property rights, transaction and circulation, cross-border transmission, and security protection of data resources.
Fourth, the deep integration of digital technology and the real economy will be further advanced. We will foster new strengths in the digital economy, build new drivers for its development, and generate new industries as well as new forms and models of business. We will continue to implement the "Digital Transformation Partnership Initiative" to facilitate the digital and intelligent upgrading of conventional enterprises.
Fifth, guidance for regional pilot and demonstration programs will be intensified. We will implement major regional strategies and steadily advance the development of pilot zones for the national digital economy's innovation and development. We will speed up efforts to guide pilot zones to conduct preliminary trials in light of local conditions and reduce systemic and institutional barriers for development to give full play to their driving and demonstrating roles.
Sixth, a standardized and orderly policy environment will be fostered. We will build a policy and regulatory system that is compatible with the development of the digital economy, attach equal importance to both development and regulation, support the innovative development of platform companies, and enhance their international competitiveness. We will tighten supervision over online platform economy in accordance with laws and regulations, and strengthen the building of dynamic and innovative institutions in order to vigorously support the development of the digital economy.
Thank you again for your question. The NDRC will hold a sub-forum on the digital economy at this Summit (the 4th Digital China Summit). We welcome your input and participation.
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Red Star News:
This year's summit includes eight competitions, adding, for example, events related to big data and robots. What were the considerations for doing so? How do we encourage teenagers to participate in these competitions?
You Mengjun:
This a very good question. General Secretary Xi Jinping has repeatedly stressed that to seek innovation is to seek the future. As an important part of the summit, the Innovation Contest has now been a success across two sessions, attracting the participation of a large number of outstanding teams and teenagers from home and abroad. The last session of the contest witnessed the involvement of nearly 10,000 teams and more than 20,000 contestants. The contest is becoming more and more professional and its reputation is growing across the industry.
This year's event will see eight competitions held simultaneously, including digital Party building, digital government, big data, smart healthcare, Kunpeng computing, cybersecurity, integrated circuits, and youth AI robots. Organizing competitions in these fields is mainly to dovetail areas of interest in the development of digital technology and various points of industry focus. For example, this year marks the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China, so we added a new competition event titled digital Party building.
You mentioned another two new competition events just now — big data and robots — for which we had the following considerations:
General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out that data is also a factor of production and big data is an important productive force. By holding the big data competition, we aim to focus on the theme of this year's summit, pooling intellectual resources of enterprises, colleges, and universities, and scientific research institutions to accelerate the technological innovation and industrial application of various data. We also seek to explore new models and scenarios for data sharing, opening-up, development, and utilization and develop a group of big data application projects to facilitate industrial transformation, social governance, and public services in a targeted manner.
General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out that the cultivation of scientific and technological personnel should begin with children. The Digital China Summit also attaches great importance to the fostering of innovation among teenagers. During the third session of the summit last year, we held a contest for primary and middle school students. After an extensive selection process, nearly 1,000 students took part in the competition, which highlighted the innovative potential of many young people. This year, we changed the contest for primary and middle school students into a youth-built AI robot competition, whose aim is to "popularize AI education and cultivate scientific and technological personnel for the future." By doing so, we want to highlight the important position of AI in the application of digital technology and guide teenagers to study AI knowledge systematically through interesting and challenging competitions with the goal of cultivating scientific professionals for the future.
In order to encourage youngsters to participate in the AI robot competition, we worked with the Fujian Association of Science and Technology and other institutions to carry out promotional activities at primary and middle schools across the province. It is hoped that the competition will attract a new generation of students to study and take interest in information technology. As far as we know, students are so far very interested in the competition and schools are organizing registration. The competition is expected to stimulate primary and middle school students' interest in digital technology innovation and help cultivate young innovative talents who will make contributions to the development of Digital China. Thank you for the questions.
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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.
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