Xiamen makes strides in digital economy

A news conference about establishing the national (Fujian) pilot zone for innovative development of the digital economy -- held on March 23 in Fuzhou city, capital of Fujian province -- indicated that big things are expected of the initiative.

By 2022, the added value of the province's digital economy is projected to top2.6 trillion yuan ($398 billion), enjoying an average annual growth rate of more than 15 percent and accounting for more than 50 percent of GDP, according to officials at the news conference.

Xiamen city in Fujian province will speed up the construction of the BRICS Partnership on New Industrial Revolution innovation center and a national digital service export base at Xiamen Software Park, officials told the news conference.

Xiamen attaches great importance to the development of the digital economy. In 2020, the scale of the city's digital economy reached 365 billion yuan, accounting for 57 percent of its GDP.

Aiming at building a national digital economy development demonstration zone, the city will promote the coordinated development of its digital industry by strengthening pillar industries such as software and the information service industry, as well as the electronics information manufacturing industry.

It will develop characteristic industries, such as artificial intelligence and the information technology applications and innovation industry, cultivating and introducing a number of leading enterprises.

Meanwhile, the city will develop a municipal-level central system, expand various digital service applications, create a digital ecosystem and establish a digital transformation promotion center for manufacturing, services and other industries.

Last year, Xiamen Software Park became one of the national digital service export bases.

Moving forwards, Xiamen will promote the development of the base in five areas:

Expand the export scale of its digital services, focus on the development of digital services such as information technology, digital content exports and offshore outsourcing, as well as build an export base for the games industry.

Promote the transformation of digital services exports. Strengthen the export capacity of the industrial internet and encourage resident enterprises to carry out "smart retail", "smart transportation", "smart medical treatment" and other services and applications in BRICS countries and countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative.

Build four major platforms for research, development and innovation, industrial promotion, international resources and intellectual property protection, as well as promote the export of high-quality digital products and content.

Cultivate new business entities in the export of digital services and accelerate the introduction of regional headquarters and R&D centers of leading enterprises and high-level research institutions.

Establish a resource matching system for countries along the Maritime Silk Road, as well as support enterprises in expanding cooperation with BRICS countries in the services trade, such as software information, inspections and testing, R&D and design.