China announces five-year action plan aimed at developing digital villages

China unveiled a five-year action plan on Friday aimed at advancing the integrated development of digital rural industries, rural digital infrastructure, and smart rural governance.

The action plan for the high-quality development of digital villages was jointly issued by the Cyberspace Administration of China, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, and the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology.

According to the plan, rural internet penetration is set to increase from 69.5 percent in 2025 to 75 percent in 2030. Additionally, online activities at county-level cultural centers are expected to rise from 151,600 in 2025 to 170,000 in 2030.

The plan emphasizes not only upgrading rural network infrastructure but also expanding efforts in areas like smart agriculture, agricultural science and technology innovation, and rural e-commerce.

For instance, there will be a focus on enhancing research, development, and application of smart breeding technologies. The plan also calls for the establishment of intelligent crop seed production zones and core breeding centers for livestock, poultry, and aquatic products.

The construction of comprehensive village-level delivery and logistics service stations will be bolstered, with strong support for new energy vehicles and green smart home appliances in rural areas. Enterprises are encouraged to develop smart software and hardware products tailored to rural life.

Moreover, the plan also aims to promote digital education, digital healthcare, and digital finance in rural areas.

The Cyberspace Administration of China has stated that it will collaborate with other authorities to conduct regular analyses of digitalization implementation in villages, offering more policy interpretations to advance high-quality development. This initiative seeks to enhance the sense of fulfillment, happiness, and security among villagers as they progress toward informatization.

caoyin@chinadaily.com.cn