Digital News

　　The development of digital villages is a strategic direction for comprehensively revitalizing rural areas and a vital component of building a Digital China. The 2025 Key Work Points for Digital Village Development, jointly issued by the Office of the Central Cyberspace Affairs Commission and three other departments, clearly states that by the end of 2025, the goals outlined in the 14th Five-Year Plan for digital village development will be fully achieved. The role of digital technologies in ensuring national food security and preventing large-scale fall and relapse into poverty will be further highlighted. The internet penetration rate in rural areas will continue to rise steadily, the level of informatization in agricultural production will further improve, and the online retail sales of agricultural products will maintain stable growth. Looking ahead, it is worth analyzing how to continuously enhance the effectiveness of digital governance in rural areas, improve information service levels, accelerate the narrowing of the urban-rural gap through digital technologies, and promote integrated urban-rural development.

　　As digital technologies become increasingly integrated into rural production and daily life, the development of digital villages in China has shifted into high gear. As of December 2024, the number of rural internet users in China reached 313 million, and a cumulative total of 2.276 billion QR codes had been assigned through the “All Agricultural Code”. Telemedicine service networks now cover all prefectures and counties, with “cloud consultations” significantly reducing healthcare costs for farmers. The coverage of digital payment in rural areas continues to expand, while innovative digital finance models such as “invisible credit” allow farmers to obtain loans based solely on credit data. A total of 337,800 integrated village-level logistics service stations have been established, and new business models that combine posting and delivery services, rural e-commerce, specialty agricultural products, and farmers are being widely promoted.

　　Despite these impressive highlights, several weaknesses remain. These include an underdeveloped foundational data resource system, a shortage of information technology tools tailored to agriculture, and limited application of digital technologies in agriculture. The digital economy penetration rate in China’s primary sector remains significantly lower than that in the secondary and tertiary sectors. Therefore, further expansion of the digital village development space is needed.

　　A coordinated effort between government and market mechanisms should be maintained. The government must strengthen top-level planning and policy support, establish cross-departmental coordination mechanisms for digital village development, formulate detailed guidelines tailored to regional characteristics for digital village development, and improve the policy framework from top-level design to implementation. Greater fiscal support is also necessary, including the establishment of special funds or bonds for digital village development. Priority should be given to upgrading rural digital infrastructure and improving farmers’ digital literacy, thereby reinforcing both “soft” and “hard” foundational support. Market players must also be empowered to unleash their innovative potential. Enterprises should be encouraged to participate in digital village development, exploring diversified models for development and operation. For example, Fengjie County in Chongqing has developed a production service system for its navel orange industry that integrates “e-commerce companies, on-site livestreaming, and farmers”, and has introduced drone delivery to reduce labour transport costs for fruit growers by 40%.

　　Unlocking the value of data as a production factor must be balanced with ensuring data security. A foundational agricultural and rural data resource system should be established, supported by agricultural and rural data censuses. Multidimensional data, spanning agricultural production, rural governance, and public services, should be integrated, and a national big data centre for agriculture and rural areas should be built. This would break down “data barriers” and “information silos”, allowing data to be leveraged as a main force through the development of diverse application scenarios. Multi-scenario reuse and integrated innovation can amplify the compound effects of data. For instance, Zhenping County in Henan Province has promoted digital development through digital Zhenping development, strengthening data sharing to boost agricultural efficiency and stimulate the integrated development of agriculture, culture, and tourism. In parallel, it is essential to enhance cybersecurity and risk prevention measures. Key infrastructure, such as smart farmland control systems and rural e-commerce platforms, should be placed under classified protection, and emergency response mechanisms for cyber incidents should be established.

　　A coordinated approach combining holistic advancement with targeted breakthroughs must be upheld. Key areas and critical links must be prioritized, especially the alignment of digital village development with ensuring national food security, accelerating the transformation and upgrading of the agricultural industry, and promoting new urbanization. These coordinated efforts can achieve a “chain reaction” effect where progress in one area drives overall revitalization. The specific needs of remote, formerly impoverished, and ageing rural communities should also be addressed. Through a tiered promotion mechanism based on “county-level coordination + village-level implementation”, the precise coverage and rural adaptation of digital technology applications can be promoted.