Beijing, January 21, 2024, The Europe Today: In an ambitious endeavor, Beijing is on a trajectory to position itself as a global benchmark city for the digital economy, with digital sectors contributing 42.9 percent to its regional gross domestic product (GDP) in 2023, according to Mayor Yin Yong’s announcement on Sunday.
Official statistics reveal that Beijing’s digital economy achieved an added value of approximately 1.88 trillion yuan (about 263.7 billion U.S. dollars) in 2023, demonstrating an impressive 8.5 percent year-on-year increase when calculated at current prices.
The Chinese capital has significantly excelled in the realm of digital infrastructure, securing numerous national leading indicators. In 2023, Beijing erected a staggering 30,000 new 5G base stations, claiming the top spot nationally with 49 5G base stations per ten thousand people, as reported by Mayor Yin.
Beijing’s prowess extends to generative AI products, with 24 of its innovations granted public access, nearly half of China’s total. Furthermore, the high-level autonomous driving demonstration zone in Beijing covered an expansive 160 square kilometers in 2023, facilitating the testing and utilization of 775 autonomous vehicles across eight different scenarios.
Looking ahead, Mayor Yin outlined the city’s vision for 2024, emphasizing an accelerated focus on constructing a global benchmark for the digital economy. The city aims to strategically position itself in key sectors of the digital economy, fostering comprehensive transformations in production methods, lifestyles, and governance through digitization.
The mayor delivered these remarks during the government work report presented at the annual session of the Beijing Municipal People’s Congress on Sunday. As Beijing propels itself into the forefront of the digital era, these initiatives underscore its commitment to technological innovation, economic growth, and global leadership in the digital landscape.
