Digital economy to be critical engine for economic growth

The fast development of the digital economy will be a key growth driver to offset the novel coronavirus outbreak's impact, the country's top economic regulator told on Monday.

"China has seen huge benefits brought by the deep integration of information technology and digital transformation amid the outbreak," Gao Gao, deputy secretary-general of the National Development and Reform Commission, said during a news conference.

"Big data, telemedicine, e-commerce, mobile payment and other technologies and services have played a key role in epidemic prevention and resumption of work. And now we have a better understanding of emerging sectors such as telecommuting and online education."

He believed digital economy will be a critical engine for the economic growth, and various industries will accelerate the push for digital transformation.

To better hedge against the epidemic's impact, China will step up the construction of new infrastructure such as 5G, data centers and industrial internet, Gao added.

More efforts will also be made to promote the development of big data, cloud computing, artificial intelligence, internet of things and other technologies, foster a batch of digital economy sectors that will create more jobs, accelerate the transformation of traditional industries and promote the sustained and healthy development of sharing economy.

In the next step, the NDRC will also focus on weak links, and increase the investment on related fields.