National Business Daily:

What achievements were made in the recently released fifth national economic census? Did it achieve its expected goals? Thank you.

Kang Yi:

Thank you for your questions. Just now, we gave a brief introduction to the main data of the fifth national economic census. This is a major national survey of the country's conditions and strength on the new journey of the new era. The main purpose is to comprehensively examine the development of China's secondary and tertiary industries, understand the economic links between industries in the national economy, and promote new progress in high-quality development.

In general, since the census work began, various regions and departments conscientiously implemented the decisions and plans of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council, adhered to the principle of conducting the census according to the law, in a scientific manner, and with a people-centered approach. We insisted on seeking truth from facts, and sought reform and innovation, ensuring that the census data is authentic and accurate. We understood the economic situation and new characteristics of economic development. This provided important reference for strengthening and improving macroeconomic governance, scientifically formulating medium and long-term development plans, and building China into a modern socialist country in all respects. This census fully achieved its expected goals. The achievements of the census were mainly in three aspects:

First, we obtained a comprehensive understanding of China's economic conditions. Since the fourth national economic census, the international environment for China's economic and social development has undergone profound and complex changes. During the past five years, we spent three years combating the pandemic, which severely impacted the economy. Fully understanding the economic foundation of our country is of great significance in promoting sustainable and sound economic development. Through the fifth national economic census, we surveyed all legal entities, industrial activity units, and self-employed units engaged in the secondary and tertiary industries nationwide. We have gained a clear understanding of the scale, structure, layout and performance of the secondary and tertiary industries. This provides comprehensive and reliable data for analyzing industrial development, promoting industrial integration, and facilitating sound economic development.

Second, the economic census objectively reflects the progress we have made in high-quality economic development. China's economy is turning for high-quality development, and promoting high-quality development is the theme of the new era. Census data show that over the five-year period, various departments and localities thoroughly applied the new development philosophy and moved faster to foster the new development dynamic, making progress with innovation-driven development, structural optimization and green transition. In the fifth national economic census, we surveyed the digital economy and platform economy, and carried out input-output surveys in a coordinated manner. The results objectively reflect the huge changes in China's economic structure, new features of innovative development, and new trends of green and low-carbon development, providing support for continued high-quality development in the form of statistics information.

Third, the economic census provides an important foundation for Chinese modernization. We have built a moderately prosperous society in all respects and embarked on a new journey toward building a modern socialist country in all respects. According to the decisions and arrangements of the CPC Central Committee, we aim to basically realize socialist modernization by 2035. To fulfil this goal, we need a well-designed plan for economic and social development. The fifth national economic census collected information regarding key indicators such as the GDP, economic structure and economic results, thus providing important references for implementing the 14th Five-Year Plan, preparing the 15th Five-Year Plan, and accelerating high-quality economic development to eventually realize the goal by 2035. Thank you.