Continue to strengthen, improve and expand China's digital economy

In recent years, technologies such as the Internet, big data, cloud computing, artificial intelligence and block chain have accelerated innovation and become increasingly integrated into the whole process of economic and social development. Countries are competing to formulate strategies and introduce policies to encourage the development of the digital economy. The speed, scope and influence of the digital economy have never been faster. It is becoming a key force to restructure global factor resources, reshape global economic structure and change global competition pattern.

For a long time, I have attached great importance to the development of digital technology and digital economy. In 2000, when I was working in Fujian, I put forward the idea of building a "digital Fujian". In 2003, when I was working in Zhejiang, I put forward the idea of building a "digital Zhejiang". Since the 18th CPC National Congress, I have repeatedly stressed the importance of developing the digital economy. At the 36th group study session of the Political Bureau of the 18th CPC Central Committee in 2016, the party stressed the need to expand and strengthen the digital economy and expand new space for economic development. In the same year, the G20 Hangzhou Summit put forward the initiative of developing the digital economy for the first time, which was widely recognized by leaders and entrepreneurs of other countries. In 2017, during the second group study session of the Political Bureau of the 19th CPC Central Committee, it was emphasized to speed up the construction of digital China, build a digital economy with data as the key element, and promote the integrated development of real economy and digital economy. In 2018, the Central Economic Work Conference stressed the need to accelerate the development of 5G, artificial intelligence, industrial Internet and other new infrastructure. In his congratulatory letter to the Wuzhen Summit of the World Internet Conference in 2021, he pointed out that it is necessary to stimulate the vitality of the digital economy, enhance the effectiveness of the digital government, optimize the digital social environment, build a digital cooperation framework, build a solid digital security barrier, and make digital civilization benefit the people of all countries.

Since the 18th CPC National Congress, the CPC Central Committee has attached great importance to the development of digital economy, making it a national strategy. The fifth Plenary Session of the 18th CENTRAL Committee of the COMMUNIST Party of China (CPC) proposed to implement the strategy of making China a cyber power and the National Big data strategy, expand the space of the cyber economy, promote the integrated development of the Internet with economic and social development, and support all kinds of internet-based innovation. At the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC), the party called for deeper integration of the Internet, big data, artificial intelligence and the real economy to build a digital China and a smart society. The fifth Plenary Session of the 19th CPC Central Committee proposed to develop digital economy, promote digital industrialization and industrial digitization, promote the deep integration of digital economy and real economy, and build digital industrial clusters with international competitiveness. We have issued the Outline for the Implementation of the Cyber Power Strategy and the Outline for the Development of the Digital Economy strategy to promote the development of the digital economy at the national level. In recent years, China's digital economy has developed rapidly and made remarkable achievements. According to the 2021 Global Digital Economy Conference, China's digital economy has ranked second in the world for many consecutive years. Especially since the outbreak of COVID-19, digital technology and the digital economy have played an important role in supporting the fight against COVID-19 and the resumption of production and life.

On January 4, 2022, Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, inspected preparations for the 2022 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games in Beijing.  Xinhua News Agency/Xie Huanchi

At the same time, we should realize that China's digital economy is big but not strong, fast but not good, compared with the world's major and powerful digital economies. In addition, some unhealthy and irregular signs and trends have emerged in the rapid development of China's digital economy. These problems not only affect the healthy development of the digital economy, but also violate laws and regulations and pose a threat to China's economic and financial security. They must be resolutely corrected and addressed.

In conclusion, the development of digital economy is of great significance and a strategic choice to seize the new opportunities of the new round of scientific and technological revolution and industrial transformation.

First, the sound development of the digital economy is conducive to building a new development landscape. An important task in building a new development pattern is to strengthen the drivers of economic development and smooth economic circulation. Digital technology and digital economy can facilitate the rapid flow of various resources and factors, accelerate the integration of various market players, help market players restructure their organizational models, achieve cross-border development, break the time-space constraints, extend the industrial chain, and smooth the economic cycle at home and abroad.

Second, the healthy development of the digital economy is conducive to the construction of a modern economic system. As a new production factor, data has a great impact on the transformation of traditional production mode. With high innovation, strong penetration and wide coverage, digital economy is not only a new economic growth point, but also a fulcrum to transform and upgrade traditional industries, and can become an important engine for building a modern economic system.

Third, the healthy development of the digital economy is conducive to building new national competitive advantages. In today's world, digital technology and the digital economy are leading opportunities for scientific and technological revolution and industrial transformation, and key areas in a new round of international competition. We must seize these opportunities and seize the commanding heights of future development.

On the afternoon of October 22, 2021, President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, delivered an important speech at a symposium on Promoting Ecological protection and high-quality development of the Yellow River Basin in Jinan, East China's Shandong Province.  Xinhua/Li Xueren

For the future, we must stand in the global strategy of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation and the world as a whole the changing from the height of one hundred, overall domestic and international two overall situation, the development of both security events, give full play to the huge amounts of data and application scenario for the advantage, promote the digital technology and the real economy depth fusion, fu to transformation and upgrading of traditional industries, and create new patterns of new industry new forms, Continue to strengthen, improve and expand China's digital economy.

First, we will step up efforts to tackle key and core technologies. Keep digital key core technology independent innovation this "gap", giving full play to the advantages of the socialist system in our country, the new type of the sports system, very large scale advantage in the market, improve the digital technology research and development ability, play key core technology tough, to achieve high levels of free-standing self-improvement as soon as possible, the development of digital economy autonomy firmly in their own hands.

Second, speed up the construction of new infrastructure. To strengthen strategic layout, speed up the construction in 5 g network data center, the national integration system, the national industry, such as the Internet high-speed ubiquitous, integration of heaven and earth, and communities in cloud network integration, intelligent agile, green low carbon, the safe and controllable intelligent integrated digital information infrastructure, information through economic and social development "artery". We will comprehensively promote industrialization and large-scale application, cultivate large software enterprises with international influence, focus on making breakthroughs in key software, make the software industry bigger and stronger, and enhance the capacity for innovation and supply of key software technology.

Third, promote the integrated development of the digital economy and the real economy. We should follow the direction of digitalization, networking and intelligence, promote the digitization of manufacturing, service and agriculture industries, use new Internet technologies to transform traditional industries in all directions and in the whole chain, raise total factor productivity, and give full play to the role of digital technologies in amplifying, stacking and multiplying economic development. We will promote deeper integration of the Internet, big data, and artificial intelligence with industries, and speed up the development of a number of "specialized, innovative" enterprises and single champions in manufacturing. Of course, we should keep our feet on the ground and adapt to the situation. We should not go digital for digital's sake.

Fourth, promote the development of digital industries in key areas. We should focus on areas at the strategic frontier and commanding heights, focus on major technological breakthroughs and major development needs, enhance the competitiveness of key links of the industrial chain, improve the supply chain system of key industries, and accelerate the iteration of products and services. We should focus on key areas such as integrated circuits, new displays, communication equipment and intelligent hardware, accelerate the development of the long board and strengthen weak links, cultivate a number of internationally competitive large enterprises and ecologically oriented enterprises with industrial chain control, and build an independent and controllable industrial ecosystem. We should promote cluster development and build world-class digital industrial clusters.

Fifth, we need to standardize the development of the digital economy. To promote the sound development of the digital economy, we need to focus on both promoting development and regulating and standardizing the development of the digital economy. We need to improve the market access system, the fair competition review system, and the fair competition oversight system. We need to establish an all-dimensional, multi-tiered, and multi-dimensional oversight system, and implement oversight in all areas, both before and after the event, to close oversight loopholes, and improve oversight effectiveness. We will correct and standardize behaviors and practices that harm people's interests and impede fair competition in the course of development, prevent platform monopoly and disorderly expansion of capital, and investigate and punish monopolies and unfair competition in accordance with the law. The legitimate rights and interests of platform employees and consumers should be protected. We will strengthen tax supervision and inspection.

Sixth, improve the digital economy governance system. We need to improve laws, regulations, policies and systems, as well as institutions and mechanisms, to modernize China's digital economy governance system and capacity. Competent departments and regulatory bodies should improve their responsibilities and work with each other. We need to improve technology and means of oversight and control, and ensure that oversight and governance run through the whole process of innovation, production, operation and investment. It is necessary to clarify the main responsibilities and obligations of platform enterprises and establish an industry self-discipline mechanism. Public, media and public oversight should be carried out to form a synergy of oversight. We need to improve national security systems, focus on strengthening early warning, prevention and control mechanisms and capacity building for security risks in the digital economy, and ensure that core technologies, important industries, key facilities, strategic resources, major technologies, and leading enterprises are secure and controllable. We should strengthen the theoretical research of digital economy development.

Xi jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, President and Chairman of the Central Military Commission, visited Shaanxi province from April 20 to 23, 2020.  Xinhua News Agency/Ju Peng

Seventh, actively participate in international cooperation on digital economy. We should closely observe and take proactive actions, actively participate in negotiations on digital economy in international organizations, carry out bilateral and multilateral cooperation on digital governance, maintain and improve multilateral digital economy governance mechanisms, and timely put forward China's proposals and make China's voice heard.

Digital economy bears on the overall interests of national development. We need to do a good job in the top-level design and institutional building of China's digital economy development in light of China's development needs and possibilities. To strengthen the situation analysis, seize the opportunity to win the initiative. Leading officials at all levels should improve their thinking ability and professional quality of the digital economy, enhance their ability to develop the digital economy, strengthen security awareness, and promote the digital economy to better serve and integrate into the new development pattern. We should improve the digital literacy and skills of the whole society and lay a solid social foundation for the development of China's digital economy.

※ This is a speech delivered by General Secretary Xi Jinping at the 34th group study session of the Political Bureau of the 19th CPC Central Committee on Oct. 18, 2021.