SOURCE / ECONOMY
What new experiences await us in a digital China?
Published: Jun 10, 2021 10:51 PM
Technology that may seem out of reach is actually closely connected to our daily lives. Today, a new generation of information technology represented by artificial intelligence, blockchain and Internet of Things is becoming a new booster for China's digital economy, and a new engine in its pursuit to emerge as a great power in science and technology. This year, the 14th Five-Year Plan lists a separate chapter for the development of the digital economy, and includes for the first time an economic indicator that gauges the share of the added value of core digital industries in GDP. It brings up a specific goal of increasing the share from 7.8% in 2020 to 10% in 2025.

As the 14th Five-Year Plan kicks off, how are new strengths being built for the construction of a digital China? At the 4th Digital China Summit that concluded in April, 20 sub-forums were held to discuss all aspects of digital China construction. Some 23 provinces and 34 state-owned enterprises, with more than 100,000 participants and visitors took part in the summit. A batch of contracts for digital economy projects were signed, giving fresh impetus to the building of a digital China. 

Venue of the 4th Digital China Summit. Photo: Yuan Hao

Venue of the 4th Digital China Summit. Photo: Yuan Hao


In recent years, the industrial base of China's digital economy has been steadily enhanced. China has built the world's largest optical fiber network and 4G network, and the 5G terminal connections have now reached over 300 million. Internet technologies and machines are replacing manpower in factories, increasing the production efficiency in the manufacturing industry. Intelligent manufacturing and intelligent services have become key factors in the transformation of traditional industries, of which the automotive industry is ushering in new prospects for development.

Tesla Model 3

Tesla Model 3


In recent years, Chinese companies have been swarming into the sector of intelligent connected vehicles and have been constantly bringing about relevant application scenarios. So, what exactly is the appeal of smart vehicles?

China has recently released a slew of policies to boost the development of smart vehicles. 

In February 2020, a total of 11 ministerial-level authorities, including the National Development and Reform Commission, promulgated a document titled The Strategy on Developing Smart Vehicles. According to the blueprint, China expects to achieve, by the year 2025, the large-scale production of intelligent vehicles with conditional autonomous driving, the market-oriented application of intelligent vehicles that realize highly automated driving under specific scenarios, and progress in the construction of smart transport and smart city programs. 

During the 4th Digital China Summit held this year, the first 5G intelligent bus line of East China's Fujian Province made a stunning debut, inviting passengers to experience the intelligent connected vehicles for themselves. 

The operation of intelligent vehicles requires a tremendous amount of data, which makes data security a top priority in the security management of intelligent vehicles. In order to regulate this field, the Cyberspace Administration of China recently issued a draft rule to safeguard national security and public interests by heightening the protection of personal information and important data, as well as regulating automotive data processing activities. The regulation will serve as a basic guideline for protecting data privacy and security for the entire automotive industry, and will effectively promote the healthy development of China's intelligent connected vehicles.

Reuters said in a report on May 27 that some multinational automobile companies have set up facilities in China to store data generated by their cars locally, including US electric carmaker Tesla. Tesla said on May 25 that it will gradually increase the number of local data centers in China, while reiterating that all data collected in the Chinese mainland will be stored locally.

Conceptual graph of intelligent vehicles

Conceptual graph of intelligent vehicles


Various kinds of big data centers have been springing up in recent years. By the end of 2020, the number of data center racks in use in China amounted to 5 million, with an average annual growth rate of over 30% in the past 5 years, 2.3 times the global average.

For the opening year of the 14th Five-Year Plan, Fujian, the birthplace of the digital China strategy, is pushing ahead with its plan to play a leading role in the digital economy. In 2020, the added value of Fujian's digital economy exceeded 2 trillion yuan, accounting for about 45% of the province's GDP.

Big data centers are crucial to the digital economy. Fujian aims to build more than 30,000 5G base stations, promote the scale deployment of IPv6 and accelerate the construction of major projects including the Kunpeng Supercomputing Center in Xiamen, the Quanzhou Advanced Computing Center and the Longyan Tulou Cloud Valley Data Center in 2021, according to recently released government plans.

The China Southeast Big Data Industrial Park in Fuzhou, a center for high-tech enterprises. Photo: Lin Shijie

The China Southeast Big Data Industrial Park in Fuzhou, a center for high-tech enterprises. Photo: Lin Shijie


The construction of digital China cannot be achieved without the support of quality digitization services. For example, an integrated management system for the prevention and control of major epidemics can monitor in real time epidemic related situations in medical institutions, connect center of disease control and health regulatory departments at all levels in the city of Fuzhou, and offer substantial support to the research and evaluation of epidemic situations. The application of big data allows citizens in Fuzhou to feel the latest achievements of Fuzhou's digital construction.

The development of digital construction in Fuzhou is a microcosm of the achievements of digital China.

E-Fuzhou app and self-service machines serve as fast channels for public services. Photo: Chen Nuan

"E-Fuzhou" app and self-service machines serve as "fast channels" for public services. Photo: Chen Nuan


 
The rainbow trail in Fushan Suburban Park. Photo: Lin Shuangwei

The rainbow trail in Fushan Suburban Park. Photo: Lin Shuangwei