Premier calls for faster and cheaper internet service to boost digital economy

2017-07-31
english.gov.cn

Premier Li Keqiang inspected China’s major mobile network operators — China Telecom, China Mobile and China Unicom — and hosted a symposium on July 31.

Premier Li inquired about the three enterprises’ situation in strengthening information infrastructure construction, conducting technological innovation and application, and progress in increasing broadband speed and lower rates for internet services.

These enterprises also were encouraged to grasp the chance for technology revolution and industrial change to make breakthroughs on more key technologies, and improve their competitiveness in international market.

At China Telecom, the Premier was told that the enterprise encouraged its over 160,000 employees to take part in the in-house programs for entrepreneurship, which brought about 25,000 program leaders to each program.

After chatting via video call with one of them from Jiangsu province, Premier Li said the initiative has not only motivated employees’ enthusiasm, but also improved the competitiveness of large enterprises, which is a new model for the integrated development for large, medium and small enterprises.

When inspecting China Mobile, Premier Li learned that the enterprise has developed new technologies to solve the technological difficulties of bike sharing, including disorderly parking.

“Inclusive and prudent supervision is needed toward such emerging things as bike sharing, and to promote its vigorous and orderly development with the aid of new technologies and new models, ” the Premier said.

On learning that in 2016 China Unicom had reduced by 35 percent internet access fees for small and medium-sized enterprises, the Premier said it helps to enhance the vitality of enterprises and improve more employment.

Premier Li said when attending the symposium that China should continue to increase broadband speed and lower rates for internet services to better meet market demand.

“The multiple number of measures that telecommunication enterprises adopted in increasing broadband speed and lowering rates has, in the meantime, enhanced enterprises’ competitiveness and reduced social costs,” said the Premier, who also pointed out that it has driven further growth in internet users and information flow.

In this regard, the Premier called for effective measures to be taken in reducing the burdens of enterprises, encouraging more efforts in increasing broadband speed and lower rates for internet services, promoting the development of Internet Plus, and accelerating the transformation of growth engines.

Premier Li said the information and communications industry is a key, fundamental industry with the highest growth potential in the national economy. China ranks first in the world for the coverage of optical fiber and 4G networks. In recent years, information consumption, mobile payment transactions and e-commerce in China have seen rapid growth, and the digital economy shows great potential, the Premier noted.

He called for actively developing emerging IT industries, such as cloud computing, the internet of things and smart terminals, fostering new industries and forms of businesses, and accelerating the transformation from traditional industries to digital, smart and green ones.

The Premier urged efforts to develop emerging service sectors, such as smart transportation, remote education, smart elderly care and healthcare, to improve basic public services and promote “Internet Plus government service”.

He asked telecom operators to actively participate in international competition and cooperation, increase support for research and development of cutting-edge technologies and key equipment, and enhance network security.

Premier Li noted that enterprises of different sizes should coordinate with each other to jointly embrace the new round of technological and industrial revolution. With the rapid development of the information network, the coordinated development of enterprises of different sizes and complementary advantages will not only improve the efficiency of social resource allocation, but also promote the mixed-ownership reform of State-owned enterprises.

The Premier said enterprises should be encouraged to build open and sharing internet platforms to precisely align their innovation resources and production capacity with market demands, and improve their innovation efficiency and manufacturing abilities through R&D cooperation to promote industrial upgrading and transformation.

The economy this year has maintained stable performance with good momentum and improving quality and efficiency, Premier Li said. He then called on authorities and enterprises to make efforts to secure the upward momentum of economic development.