China’s IT Industry Development Report released

On the afternoon of March 25, Li Ying, executive director of the Digital China Federation, released the 2017 China IT Industry Development Report (hereinafter referred to as the report) at the 2018 China IT Leaders Summit in Shenzhen. The report shows that, in 2017, China’s information technology in industry (ITII) index reached 73.8 points, up 6.3 points from 2016, an increase of nearly 10 percent. Though China only ranked the sixth in the world, it trailed the U.S. by only 7.8 points, marking the first time the countries are within 10 points of each other.

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The report mainly focuses on the integrated development of Chinese IT industry’s supply and demand. The report also explores the need to build new IT, and builds up an evaluation system from industrial strength, industrial innovation, industrial integration, and industrial environment.

The report states that in 2017, China’s overall IT industry developed steadily to become one of the most advanced internationally. While the industry grew rapidly and maintained growth quality, many measures stimulated innovation and vitality. The supply and demand accelerated the integration of IT in the economy. Domestic policies were also more favorable than before. With new changes in China and abroad, IT industrial development is facing challenges.

With regard to the outlook for China’s IT development in 2018 and beyond, the report said that digital China is entering a new era, and information technology will become the strategic tool to realize the “Chinese dream”. The IT industry will see new changes, and the integration of IT in the economy will be deeper. IT innovations are expected to reach new heights. Enterprises are becoming the major innovators in China and the network infrastructure has ushered in this new pattern.

The report mentions that cloud computing, big data and artificial intelligence will be developed together to serve as new facilities, new resources and new technology in the development of the digital economy. Software development will drive economic innovation and development, and help realize high quality, efficient economic growth.

“The coming era will be a period when new rules are introduced and adjusted. It is also a period for deepening the application and standardization of IT,” said Ying.