Xinhua News Agency:

Over recent years, the MIIT has actively promoted the empowerment of industrial digitization through the industrial internet. Could you please provide an overview of the current achievements in the innovative development of China's industrial internet? Additionally, what considerations are being made for the next step?

Zhao Zhiguo:

Thank you for your questions. Currently, China's industrial internet has entered a new phase featuring substantial and large-scale development. Here are three sets of data: in terms of industrial scale, it is expected that the core industry scale will reach 1.35 trillion yuan by 2023; in terms of coverage, industrial internet has integrated into 49 major categories of the national economy, covering all major industrial categories; in terms of development momentum, the "Hundred Cities, Thousand Parks Initiative" for industrial internet is thriving nationwide, facilitating the connection of over 10,000 enterprises in supply and demand, and driving investments exceeding 170 billion yuan. These accomplishments can be summarized in the following four aspects. 

First, significant progress has been made in developing new infrastructure that integrates the digital economy with the real economy. The identification resolution system has been comprehensively established, with the "5+2" top-level nodes operating stably, serving over 400,000 enterprises. There are over 340 industrial internet platforms with a certain level of influence, and the number of connected industrial devices exceeds 96 million sets. Meanwhile, a collaborative and efficient security system, integrating technology and management, has been established.

Second, further advancements have been made in achieving new breakthroughs in key technologies. We have accelerated the integration of information technology (IT), communication technology (CT), control technology (OT), and digital technology (DT), achieving notable breakthroughs in industrial-grade 5G chips, modules, and gateways. The cost of industrial-grade 5G modules has seen a reduction of 90% compared to the initial commercial stage, laying a solid foundation for widespread applications. In total, three international standards and 90 national ones have been released.

Third, the "new space" for its application is increasingly expanding. We have created the Chinese brand for 5G factories, releasing the directory of the first batch of 300 5G factories, with a total investment of nearly 10 billion yuan. The industrial internet has permeated various facets of the manufacturing sector, including research, production, supply, sales and services. It supports the development of national major projects, serves the green and low-carbon development, promotes consumption upgrades, and ensures safe production. This has effectively facilitated smart-technology upgrades, digital transformation and enterprise network connectivity.

Fourth, the "new ecosystem" of win-win cooperation is growing vigorously. Various types of market entities are advancing together. There are more than 2,500 member units in the Alliance of Industrial Internet, playing a crucial role in technological innovation, talent training and international cooperation. It has become the world's largest industrial ecosystem carrier in this field. The number of listed industrial internet companies has continued to grow for seven consecutive years, reaching a total of 300.

In the next step, we will collaborate with all parties to fully implement the guiding principles of the 20th CPC National Congress, act upon the decisions and arrangements of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council, and make every effort to promote the high-quality development and widespread application of the industrial internet. First, we will enhance policy guidance by issuing guidelines to promote the high-quality development of the industrial internet. We will facilitate "connectivity" of industrial internet identity, and issue new application guidelines for various industries within the industrial internet. Additionally, we will further improve the policy environment for industrial internet development and promote its extensive application. Second, we will expedite innovation-driven development, diligently implementing the innovative development project of the industrial internet. We aim to achieve breakthroughs in key technologies, accelerate the industrial application of various research and development achievements, and formulate and implement a new set of national, industry and group standards to strengthen the technological and industrial foundation for developing the industrial internet. Third, we will accelerate the cultivation of the industrial ecosystem and initiate a new round of the campaign to promote the application of the industrial internet in 1,000 industrial parks in 100 cities. We will select a group of high-level national "5G+ industrial internet" integrated application pilot zones, advancing the application of relevant policies, technologies, standards, products, and services in industrial parks, bases, and clusters. This will provide solid support for promoting the integration of digital technologies with the real economy and advancing new industrialization. Thank you.