Phoenix Satellite Television:

As we know, Shandong boasts well-developed traditional industries. Could you please elaborate on what plans Shandong has to advance new-type industrialization and future-oriented industries that are suited to its local characteristics? Thank you.

Fan Bo:

Thank you. I'm glad to answer your question. Shandong is a major economically developed province, and also an industrial and manufacturing powerhouse. The province boasts large-scale industries with complete supply systems. We are making rapid progress in replacing old growth drivers with new ones. The province has also effectively integrated the application of information technology with industrialization, resulting in sound industrial development momentum. Shandong boasts all 41 major industrial categories, 197 intermediate categories out of 207, and 603 of 666 small categories. In 2023, the industrial value-added of the province reached 2.92 trillion yuan, and investment in the "four new" economies — comprising new technologies, industries, business forms and models — grew by 11.1%. Additionally, Shandong ranks among the highest in the country in terms of the number of national-level industrial internet platforms, the industrial digitization index, and the digital transformation index for the manufacturing industry. In the first two months of this year, our growth rate of the added value of industrial enterprises above designated size was 9.4%, 2.4 percentage points higher than the national level.

We will prioritize the development of the industrial sector, focusing on high-end, smart, green and clustered development. We aim to explore new approaches and assume greater responsibility for driving new industrialization forward.

We will make every effort to promote high-end sectors.

We will optimize traditional industries in a coordinated manner, boost emerging industries, and plan the development of future-oriented industries. We will promote industrial innovation through technological innovation, develop new quality productive forces tailored to local conditions and circumstances, and build a modern industrial system underpinned by advanced manufacturing. By doing so, we aim for high-tech industries to contribute around 52% of the total output value this year from industrial enterprises above designated size.

We will spare no effort to foster new growth engines featuring intelligent technologies.

The digital industry will be advanced alongside the digital transformation of traditional industries. The province will speed up the upgrading of enterprises with smart, digital and IT technologies, turning digitalization into a powerful engine for new industrialization.

This year, the digital coverage of industrial enterprises above designated size will increase to around 90%, which is 2 to 3 percentage points higher than in 2023. 

We will spare no effort to promote the transition to green development.

We will intensify our efforts to advance energy conservation and carbon and pollution reduction initiatives to build a comprehensive green industrial system. This year, we aim to ensure that energy consumption per unit of added value for industrial enterprises above designated size decreases by more than 4%.

We will spare no effort to build industrial clusters.

Our integrated approach will support enterprises of all sizes, strengthen key industrial chains, and develop high-quality advanced manufacturing clusters, industrial parks and development zones.

In 2024, we will aim to establish about 5,000 new industrial enterprises above designated size. Additionally, around 20 enterprises will increase their annual revenue to 10 billion yuan and approximately 10 will increase their annual revenue to 50 billion yuan. We will also work to nurture about 1,000 innovative SMEs that use special and sophisticated technologies to produce novel and unique products.

Future-oriented industries are an important area of new industrialization. Shandong has proactively adopted development plans in 24 key areas, including blockchain technology and virtual reality (VR). With a focus on seven future-oriented industries, including artificial intelligence (AI), quantum technology and deep sea and aerospace exploration, we will intensify efforts to build several pioneering zones and specialized industrial parks to accelerate the creation of new strengths for new industrialization. Thank you.