Digital News

　　Since its inception in 2018, the Digital China Summit has been held for seven consecutive years. This month, the 8th Digital China Summit will once again open in Fuzhou. Looking back, the summit has repeatedly witnessed moments of handshakes, discussions, and agreements, each representing the fruitful collaborations that have propelled the development of Digital China. These vivid scenes reflect the collective efforts of all stakeholders, inspiring us to step confidently and steadily toward a digital future.

　　Keep Unveiling New Innovations

　　The summit is like a prism, reflecting the evolving spectrum of Digital China. Every year, industry leaders and experts gather at the summit to discuss the trends of the digital age, showcase innovations in digital technology, and explore collaborative plans for the digital future.

　　A series of research reports have been released, providing a closer look at the thriving Digital China. Last year, the Digital China Development Report (2023) was published, marking the first report on Digital China’s development since the establishment of the National Data Administration and the optimization of the national data system. The report highlighted four features in the overall development of Digital China in 2023: a stronger foundation for development, greater empowerment, improved digital security and governance systems, and deeper international collaboration in the digital field. Another milestone was the release of the National Data Resource Survey Report (2023), China’s first comprehensive assessment of its data resources. Additionally, the first 20 exemplary cases of “Data Element Multiplier” were unveiled, showcasing the best practices of promoting data element development and utilization by relevant units, and highlighting the multiplier effect of data elements in driving economic and social development.

　　A range of innovation achievements were unveiled, providing attendees with the chance to explore digital applications across all aspects of daily life at the summit. iFLYTEK, a leader in AI technology, has been a regular participant at the summit for seven years. Last year, it debuted its latest innovation, the iFLYTEK Spark V3.5, along with several consumer hardware products upgraded via the model. NetDragon Websoft, a key player in Fujian’s digital economy, also marked its seventh year at the summit. Last year, it showcased its education-themed interactive brick sandbox project for the first time at the summit. Visitors marveled at the dazzling array of “black tech,” eagerly interacting with these cutting-edge technologies. The response was overwhelmingly positive. Given the high demand, the organizers extended the exhibition area’s opening of the 7th Digital China Summit by an additional day, allowing more visitors to experience these innovations up close.

　　Various competitions were held concurrently, showcasing the emergence and growth of new talents. The Digital China Innovation Contest, a branded professional event of the summit, has been held six times since 2019. It aims to drive the innovation and application of digital technologies while supporting the growth of the digital industry. Over the past six years, the contest has attracted more than 130,000 participants, with nearly 2,600 teams (or companies) receiving awards. Additionally, over 1,100 excellent proposals have been compiled into a comprehensive report. “Many of the outstanding projects from the contest have already been implemented across the country. For example, the winning results from the champion and runner-up teams at the 2019 ‘Big Data in Healthcare – AI Diagnosis of Liver Cancer’ competition have been implemented at the Mengchao Hepatobiliary Hospital of Fujian Medical University, leading to the development of the ‘Mengchao Liver Disease-Brain Liver Cancer AI Image Recognition’ application. Likewise, the winning results from the 2020 ‘Digital Government – Smart Ocean’ competition have been applied to the development of the Fujian Provincial Marine Fisheries Management System,” said a representative from the organizer of the Digital China Innovation Contest.

　　Keep Highlighting Local Characteristics

　　The Digital China Summit, held in the vibrant city of Fuzhou, naturally highlights the unique characteristics of the city.

　　The water of the Minjiang River symbolizes the vibrant momentum propelling the development of Digital Fuzhou. In 2018, as one of the key highlights of the first Digital China Summit, the “Digital Economy · Night Talk on Minjiang River” took place during a cruise on the Minjiang River. The “Industrial Ship,” “Healthcare Ship,” “Financial Ship,” “Governance Ship,” and “Future Ship” all set sail at the same time, each carrying prominent guests from their respective fields. While exchanging ideas, the guests also enjoyed the stunning night view of the Minjiang River, leaving them with valuable experiences. As a key part of the Digital China Summit, the “Night Talk on Minjiang River” has continuously introduced innovations over the years. For example, at the fourth summit, the “Night Talk on Minjiang River” featured several exciting new changes: the shift to a market-driven approach injected new energy into the event while also boosting corporate enthusiasm and creativity; the brand was upgraded, giving the event a fresh new look, and the talks took place on the newly built, eco-friendly cruise ships named “Minjiang Love” and “Minjiang Star,” taking the event to a whole new level.

　　With its ancient alleys and lanes, Fuzhou offers a setting for guests to engage in lively discussions, sparking innovative ideas on the development of Digital China. In 2019, the 2nd Digital China Summit introduced the “Dialogue with the Future in Blessed Fuzhou” event, designed to be interactive, relaxed, and fun. It gave guests the chance to experience firsthand the positive impact of Digital China’s development on both the economy and daily life, while also offering a space for them to share their ideas and suggestions. 2024 is known as the first year of the low-altitude-economy era. At the “Low-Altitude Economy Infrastructure Construction and Investment” seminar that year, Zheng Wei, Deputy Director of the Low-Altitude Industry Research Center at AVIC Jincheng, highlighted the significant economic potential of low-altitude networks in urban logistics. According to the estimates based on the basic data, the annual market size of urban drone deliveries in Fuzhou could range between 1.1 billion and 1.4 billion yuan. Data is the core driving force behind the development of Digital China and informatization. At the 2024 Data Element Multiplier Innovation and Development seminar, Luan Jie, Deputy Director of the Policy and Planning Department of the National Data Administration, noted that with the release of the Three-Year Action Plan for “Data Element Multiplier,” China has prioritized strategic planning in 12 key areas, with science and technology innovation taking the lead, and has achieved significant progress. Over the years, from the Three Lanes and Seven Alleys Historic District to the Xindian Ancient Town Relics Park, the “Dialogue with the Future in Blessed Fuzhou” series has gathered industry experts, government leaders, and representatives from various fields to exchange ideas and envision the future of the digital economy and governance.

　　Keep Promoting Growth

　　Riding the momentum of the summit, Fuzhou has been soaring in its development. Data shows that the previous seven sessions of the summit have facilitated the implementation of over 3,000 digital economy projects in Fujian, with a total investment exceeding 1.8 trillion yuan. Among them, nearly 800 projects, with a total investment of more than 700 billion yuan, have been implemented in Fuzhou. This has contributed to the city’s digital economy growing from 280 billion yuan in 2018 to 790 billion yuan in 2024, with an average annual growth rate of nearly 20%. The digital economy’s contribution to Fuzhou’s overall economic growth has also increased from 35% to 56%.

　　With the momentum of the summit, Fuzhou has launched a series of key policies and innovation pilot projects in the digital field. These include a range of national-level pilot projects launched in Fuzhou, such as the Digital Economy Innovation and Development Pilot Zone, Data Switching Service Network (DSSN), Digital Transformation of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs), China’s Digital Yuan, and Vehicle-Road-Cloud Integration for Intelligent Connected Vehicles (ICVs). Furthermore, the number of national high-tech enterprises in the city’s digital sector has doubled, exceeding 3,200 companies. Digital technology is also accelerating the development of various industries. For example, the textile industry leverages “5G, Industrial Internet, and AI Visual Recognition and Inspection” to achieve full-chain production control and real-time quality monitoring. Meanwhile, industries like green steel and automotive manufacturing are accelerating the development of new quality productive forces through “intelligent upgrades, digital transformation, and network integration,” enabling them to embrace the benefits of the digital era.

　　Digital life is becoming increasingly convenient and beneficial for the public. The Digital China Summit has actively promoted digital applications, facilitating the implementation of innovative digital solutions in areas such as smart healthcare, smart elderly care, digital culture and tourism, and digital ecology in Fuzhou. Digital platforms like “Minzhengtong” and “e-Fuzhou” have become an integral part of daily life for Fuzhou’s citizens, making everything from administrative services to public services more accessible. Fuzhou also features over 1,300 kilometers of scenic trails, offering a fully digitized, smart recreational experience that enhances fitness and leisure for the public, making the benefits of digital development more tangible and accessible to everyone.