Recently, the Chinese central government rolled out the Overall Layout Plan for Digital China Construction, pointing out that building a digital China is an essential engine for the Chinese path to modernization in the digital era and strong support for creating a new competitive advantage for the country. At the new stage of the journey towards the second centenary goal, the introduction of the top-level design for digital China and the acceleration of the development of digital China are of great significance to comprehensively building a modern socialist country and promoting the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

The digital China strategy provides the fundamental follow for digital Zhejiang. Under the framework of digital China, the Double Eight Strategy and the practice of digital Zhejiang will be further enhanced. The construction of digital Zhejiang will open a new historical chapter. Therefore, under the background of the 20th anniversary of the Double Eight Strategy, looking at digital Zhejiang under the vision of digital China has a special significance.

Zhejiang is one of the pioneer regions to implement digital strategy at the provincial level. As early as 2003, the Zhejiang provincial government work report proposed the digital Zhejiang strategy. In July of that year, the 4th Plenary Session of the 11th Zhejiang Provincial Committee of CPC made the decision and deployment of giving full play to eight strengths, promoting the measures of eight aspects, marking the official launch of the Double Eight Strategy. On the 20th anniversary of implementing the Double Eight Strategy, the top-level strategy design of digital China was issued, drawing a clear blueprint and beautiful prospect of the following digital age and digital civilization.

Digital Zhejiang has been carried out with the Double Eight Strategy for two decades. In January 2003, the Zhejiang provincial government work report said, “the digital Zhejiang is a basic project to promote the informatization of national economy and society comprehensively.” The conception of Digital Zhejiang is expounded systematically for the first time. The digital Zhejiang is one of the earliest ideas of informatization application reform and innovation nationwide, with specific leading and forward-looking significance. At the same time, the Double Eight Strategy is an exploration and innovation of socialism with Chinese characteristics at the provincial level. On the one hand, the Double Eight Strategy drew a blueprint for the future development of Zhejiang; On the other hand, the theory and practice also became an early exploration of the theoretical system of socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new era. In particular, the digital Zhejiang has become an innovation of digital strategy in the past 20 years, accompanied by the Double Eight Strategy. For example, the environment for agency effectiveness mentioned in the Double Eight Strategy is consistent with subsequent government digitization reforms. Besides, Zhejiang’s system and mechanism advantage, science and education flourishing province, and so on are closely related to the digital economy No.1 project.

Digital reform injects new momentum into the construction of digital Zhejiang. In the past 20 years, Zhejiang has dedicated itself to promoting the informatization of the economy and society, shaping a blueprint of digital Zhejiang. Driven by the No.1 project of the digital economy, economic growth is obtaining sustainable momentum. Zhejiang always adheres to the people-centred approach, deepening the “run at most once” reform. Besides, it has continued to promote the digital transformation of the government, economy, society, culture, and other fields. The governance system modernization and capacity have been constantly improved. In 2020, Zhejiang was given the mission to “strive to become an important window in the new era to comprehensively demonstrate the superiority of the socialist system with Chinese characteristics in the new era.” The central government also instructed Zhejiang further to promote the reform in critical fields, explore ways, and contribute experience to the national reform. In February 2021, Zhejiang provincial digital reform conference proposed that Zhejiang build a global digital revolution highland. The construction of digital Zhejiang has entered a new stage. On the one hand, digital reform continues to inject new connotations into digital Zhejiang; on the other hand, it provides experience and theory for national reform and creates a practical model for the layout of digital China. According to the Digital China Development Report (2021) issued by the Cyberspace Administration of China, the comprehensive development level of digitalization in Zhejiang ranks first in China.

Facing the new era of digital civilization, Zhejiang is firmly implementing digital reform, leading to an all-around reform. It is striving to build a digital China demonstration zone and a new highland of global digital transformation, hoping to make more remarkable contributions to the construction of digital China. 

The author is an associate researcher at the Hangzhou International Urbanology Research Center(Zhejiang Urban Governance Study Center). 

Editor: Ye Ke