By LI Linxu

In its latest moves to leverage the rapid development of digital technologies, China has unveiled a set of policy measures to bolster the development of the digital economy.

China will strengthen policy-making and institutional building, take moderately forward-looking steps in building digital infrastructure, and make a big push for the innovation and development of digital industries, according to the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC).

Meanwhile, the country will also speed up digital transformation of industries, continuously upgrade digital public services, and deepen international cooperation.

The policy measures are a follow-up to the 20th CPC National Congress report, which vowed to accelerate the development of the digital economy, further integrate it with the real economy, and build internationally competitive digital industry clusters.

The digital economy is rapidly developing across all sectors, and has far-reaching effects on the way people live and work, said Sun Wei, a person in charge of the Department of Innovation and High-Tech Development of NDRC, adding that the country will accelerate the commercial deployment and scale use of 5G, and cultivate internationally competitive digital industry clusters.

The photo shows a view inside the exhibition venue of the 6th Digital China Summit, which was held during April 27 to 28 in Fuzhou, Fujian province. (PHOTO: XINHUA)

By the end of 2022, the number of 5G stations and 5G users had reached 2.312 million and 561 million respectively, both accounting for more than 60 percent of the world's total, according to the latest statistics.

In recent years, the digital economy has been thriving in China, with significant progress made in information infrastructure, digital transformation of industries, and new business modes.

The country's digital economy reached 50.2 trillion RMB in 2022, accounting for 41.5 percent of the GDP, according to a report recently released by the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) at the 6th Digital China Summit.

China now leads the world in many digital fields, including digital infrastructure, industrial Internet and e-commerce.

China's digital economy has become one of the main drivers of economic growth, said Cao Shumin, vice minister of CAC, noting that the country will strive to build an inclusive and convenient digital society, optimize the environment for digital development, and promote international cooperation in digital fields.