Beijing pushes new policies to seek high-quality growth

Measures include improvement of digital infrastructure

The Beijing municipal government launched a package of new policies on June 10 to foster innovative business patterns during the novel coronavirus outbreak. It aims to shore up the capital's economy and stimulate residents' spending.

The new policies included accelerating the construction of infrastructure related to building a digital economy, creating more digital tech application scenarios, promoting new ways of consumption, implementing new opening-up policies and optimizing the local business environment.

The city's 5G network infrastructure is a big concern for Beijing residents.

Some 13,000 5G base stations will be added to the city by the end of 2020, which will increase the total number to 30,000, according to the city's plan.

The move will enable 5G coverage within Beijing's Fifth Ring Road and the city's subcenter in Tongzhou district.

The China Academy of Communications Technologies predicts that with the development of 5G technology, about 3 million new jobs will be created in China between 2020-25.

Besides 5G, the city government has also pledged to aid the commercialization of artificial intelligence, the internet of things, big data, blockchain, life sciences and new materials technologies, promoting the integration of industrial research and market demand.

To support the development of new business formats, which have grown in line with people's spending habits, especially to promote the fusion of online and offline consumption, the administration will advertise within communities. Sales boosted by its livestreaming promotions will be used to encourage enterprises to upgrade their delivery services.

The city government also hopes to boost tourism in the near future. By implementing several tourism programs such as walking tours of Beijing, exploring the city's suburbs and lighting up landmarks, it will develop a number of new products.

The policies were rolled out under the need to address shortcomings exposed in epidemic prevention and control. Officials also want to protect and cultivate new business formats such as e-commerce, online shopping and online services, said Tan Xuxiang, head of the Beijing Commission of Development and Reform.

Tan noted that the policies focus on people's livelihoods and the important role of the new economy in stabilizing businesses and securing employment.

New ways of consumption have incubated a large number of new jobs, including delivery posts and livestream hosts. Between Jan 20 to March 30, the number of registered delivery riders on online food delivery platform Meituan increased by 457,800.

Beijing's new economy achieved remarkable growth in 2019. The added value generated from the new economy sector reached 1.28 trillion yuan ($180.87 billion), an increase of 7.5 percent year-on-year, accounting for 36.1 percent of the city's GDP.