By Global Times

Photo:VCG

ABOUT 1.01 billion people, more than 70 per cent of Chinese mainland population, are Internet users, data from a newly released report revealed, which reflects China’s stunning development of the internet industries which have made a significant contribution to the country’s economic transition.

By the end of June, about 1.01 billion people on Chinese mainland were considered ‘netizens’, 21.75 million more compared with December 2020 and forming the largest and most active Online community around the world, according to a report published by the China Internet Network Information Center on Friday. On average, Chinese ‘netizens’ spend 26.9 hours each week surfing the Internet.
In particular, the number of rural ‘netizens’ reached 297 million in Chinese mainland by June, with 59.2 per cent Internet popularization rate, while 28 per cent of China’s ‘netizens’ are 50 years old or above.

China’s rapid increase of Internet users came amid the country’s development of Online technology. According to the aforementioned report, China has opened 961,000 5G base stations to date, covering all of China’s cities above prefectural levels. Besides, China has more than 9,000 5G application innovation cases, while possessing the world’s largest number of 5G patent declarations.

In terms of chip production, China also has formed complete, self-reliant industrial chain for chip packaging and testing. The country has begun trial production of 7nm chips, the report showed.

The rapid development of Online technologies, and the surge of China’s Online population have also fueled China’s Online economy, boosting many traditional economic sectors. For example, there are 812 million Chinese people who shop Online, 469 million people who order food by means of the Internet, 325 million people who use Online education, while 239 million people who resort to the Internet for healthcare services.

Chen Wenling, chief economist under the China Center for International Economic Exchanges said that China’s high-quality digital development has not only become an important power behind China’s dual-circulation development strategy, but is also a critical tool in addressing the world’s common challenges.