China’s Industry Minister Calls for Accelerating Development of Core Digital Economy Sectors, Integration of Chinese Industry with Digital Technology

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China’s Ministry for Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) has outlined further plans to drive the development of the country’s digital economy.

“At present, a new round of technological revolutions and industrial transformations are taking place, and the integrated development of the digital economy and the real economy is profoundly changing the nature of the economy, manufacturing methods and enterprise organization models,” said Jin Zhuanglong (金壮龙), Minister of Industry and Information Technology, at a press conference held on 1 March.

“The deep integration of informatization and industrialization is a key area for the integrated development of the digital economy and the real economy. China has a large industrial economy and the second largest digital economy in the world, with broad prospects for integrated development.

“We will anchor the strategic goals of manufacturing power, network power, and a digital China; focus on digital technology innovation breakthroughs and expansions in applications, and increase the integration of informatization and industrialization.”

The remarks from the MIIT chief arrive just after the the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the State Council jointly released the “Overall Layout Plan for the Development of a Digital China” (数字中国建设整体布局规划), calling for greater guidance by the Chinese government of the digital economy’s development.

Jin Zhuanglong highlighted three key policy areas in particular for China’s future digital economy development efforts:

  1. Firmly advancing the development of network infrastructure. “China has built the world’s largest leading-edge network infrastructure, with gigabit access capabilities covering all prefecture-level cities. This year we will implement gigabit city development in depth. Not too long ago, we held the Gigabit City Summit Forum (千兆城市高峰论坛) to guide all localities and enterprises to accelerate investment in development and accelerate the deep coverage of 5G and gigabit optical networks. [We will] research and formulate an action plan for the development of computing power infrastructure, and strengthen the development of industrial Internet infrastructure.
  2. Accelerating the development of the core sectors of the digital economy. “In 2022, China’s electronic information manufacturing industry will achieve operating revenues of 15.4 trillion yuan, and software business revenues will reach 10.8 trillion yuan, laying a solid industrial and technological foundation for the integrated development of informatization and industrialization. We will accelerate the development of emerging digital sector such as artificial intelligence, big data, blockchain, cloud computing, and network security; guide and support enterprises to increase investment in research and development, and improve the level of 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, establish software colleges with high standards and create a number of famous Chinese software parks.
  3. Vigorously promote the digital transformation of the manufacturing industry. “Research and formulate digital transformation roadmaps for key industries, and cultivate a number of digital transformation benchmarks. Promote the 5G ‘hoisting the sail’ action plan, deepen the integrated application of “5G + industrial Internet”, promote the application of the industrial Internet to industrial parks, and build a cohort of 5G fully connected factories. Implement the smart manufacturing partnership plan and standardised leadership campaigns, build a slew of world-leading smart factories and smart supply chains, and develop new models and new methods such as service-oriented manufacturing.”