In the past, whenever China faced economic challenges, it tended to invest heavily in infrastructure. Now, China has many skyscrapers, dams, highways and airports. In response to new economic problems, China is turning to new types of infrastructure.

On September 26, 2022, Zhang Zhihua, deputy director of the High Technology Department of the National Development and Reform Commission, said at a press conference that the construction of new infrastructure is linked to expanding domestic demand and improving people's livelihood, and to technological innovation and industrial development. High-quality supply creates new demand, which has important practical significance.

Zhang Zhihua pointed out that in order to increase support for new infrastructure construction, in June 2022, the State Council issued a special policy to use policy-based development financial tools to support major infrastructure construction, and recently launched a special re-loan and fiscal discount supporting support The work of upgrading equipment in some areas, both of which put new infrastructure into the focus of support. With the implementation of these policies, a number of new infrastructure construction projects will be launched at an accelerated pace, playing an active role in stabilizing investment and expanding domestic demand.

In the next step, the National Development and Reform Commission will further intensify its efforts to support the construction of new infrastructure from four aspects.

Strengthen overall planning

Implement construction plans and implementation plans for major scientific and technological infrastructure, national civil space infrastructure and other fields. Guide telecom operators to make overall arrangements for 5G and optical fiber network construction. Improve the layout of the national computing power network, and promote regional coordination and intensive co-construction. Optimize the supply structure of new infrastructure and improve the overall development efficiency.

Increase investment

Give full play to the guiding and leading role of investment within the central budget. Make good use of medium and long-term loans, local government special bonds, policy development financial instruments, etc., increase support for new infrastructure construction, and increase the enthusiasm of social capital to participate in investment.

Make up for weaknesses

Continue to implement the basic network improvement project for small and medium-sized cities in the central and western regions, support the integration of new technologies such as 5G, artificial intelligence, and big data into people's livelihood facilities, bridge the digital divide, and promote the upgrading of new infrastructure. Accelerate the research on key core technologies in key areas and enhance the resilience of the industrial chain and supply chain.

Strengthen to use to promote construction

Clarify the layout priorities and construction order of new infrastructure, and give priority to supporting the construction of new infrastructure that meets the urgent needs of the masses and has a prominent role in driving the real economy. Encourage the integration and application of new technologies in vertical industries such as energy and mining, and create a new type of infrastructure that is safe, reliable and complete.

In a word, the construction of new infrastructure is a work that needs continuous development and long-term efforts, and its connotation will continue to expand with technological breakthroughs and demand upgrades. Problems in the process, and promote the realization of sustainable, healthy and rapid development. Editor / Xu Shengpeng