Digital News

　　From fulfilling everyday needs to driving intelligent technology platforms, and extending to smart care and protection for the elderly, China’s digital economy is quietly reshaping the fabric of people’s lives.

　　“China’s achievements in promoting ‘digital livelihood’ have provided a new model for the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member states.” These days, a series of SCO summit-related events has been held in Tianjin, where China’s accomplishments in the digitization of public services have garnered extensive attention and recognition from participating guests.

　　This marks the return of Mohammed Bozkurt, former Director of the Free Trade Agreement Negotiations Department at Turkey’s Ministry of Trade and Senior Research Fellow at the Asia-Pacific Research Center, to China after 15 years. He was deeply impressed by the widespread use of mobile payments and was equally amazed by the digitization of teaching systems in the field of education.

　　Mohammed Bozkurt noted that the application of digital technology in areas essential for the people’s wellbeing in China has significant implications for empowering urban management. Whether it’s the AI systems I’ve experienced, or the smart robots that can automatically clean rooms, arrange desks and chairs, and control door locks, these digital tools are bringing infinite possibilities to our lives,” he said.

　　Mehrzad Micheal Khoi, Chairman of Tashkent Orient Swiss SA, told the reporter that China is driving transformation in areas essential for the people’s wellbeing through a range of digital technologies. This enables people to buy high-quality products at lower prices and with more convenient logistics.

　　The success of “digital livelihood” for the public reflects the vibrant growth of China’s digital economy. Taking Tianjin, the host city of this forum, as an example, the core digital economy industries in the city generated a revenue of 132.9 billion yuan in the first quarter of this year, marking a 12.2% year-on-year increase; the added value accounted for 9.4% of the city’s GDP.

　　Building on this foundation, Tianjin has cataloged nearly 40,000 data resources, formulated and implemented the Interim Measures for the Management of Public Data Authorization and Operation Pilot Programs, and cumulatively launched more than 30 kinds of data products and services in multiple pilot projects, including “Ride-Hailing Vehicle Identification Model” and “Rural Land Transfer Credit Evaluation Model”.

　　“The government service platform built on digital technology can greatly enhance the efficiency of public services. I hope such technologies will be promoted and adopted in our country in the future,” said Darya Avayeva, a researcher at the Digital Economic Transformation Research Office of the Innovation and Investment Policy Research Center at the Institute of Economics, National Academy of Sciences of Belarus, praising China’s digital governance service platform.

　　Halina Mironava, also from Belarus, saw the application prospects of digital technology in the fields of elderly care and healthcare. Pointing to a shared power bank, she told the reporter that these products can help the elderly better adapt to life in the digital age and better experience the convenience of digital life.

　　The topic of “digital livelihood”, which generated lively discussions among the participating guests, has already become a visible and tangible aspect of daily life for many foreigners who have lived in China for a long time.

　　“Mobile payments can now be made simply by ‘scanning your face’. These digital technology products have made daily life much more convenient,” said Wu Ruilong, a young man from Venezuela who has lived in Tianjin for years. “Having lived in China for so long, I’ve become accustomed to these new changes.”

　　As the participating guests stated, while the world is still discussing the broader vision of the digital economy, China has already transformed it into tangible, everyday services that people can easily experience. This “digital livelihood” practice, where technology serves people, is one of the most compelling solutions China offers in the age of digital civilization.