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Two Sessions 2021
TechPolicy

China’s ‘two sessions’: Tech titans’ proposals echo government goals for 5G, AI, autonomous driving and climate change

  • New proposals from the heads of China’s biggest tech companies seek to address China’s ageing population and upgrading digital infrastructure
  • The CEOs of many of China’s biggest companies serve as delegates at the country’s annual ‘two sessions’ event

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Chinese paramilitary police officers stand guard at Tiananmen Square prior to the opening session of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on March 4. Many of the country’s tech industry leaders are also delegates at the annual “two sessions”. Photo: EPA-EFE
Yujie Xuein ShenzhenandMasha Borakin Hong Kong
Every year, China’s most notable tech industry leaders are invited to the country’s two most important political meetings, known as the “two sessions”, to help formulate a national vision for the country’s technological development. As delegates of the National People‘s Congress (NPC) and Chinese People‘s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), they submit proposals and suggestions in advance of the meetings, although there is no guarantee those proposals will be enacted as legislation.
The following proposals are ones from the heads of Tencent Holdings, Xiaomi, Baidu and Lenovo Group echo the policy targets and societal concerns that were among the biggest topics in tech throughout 2020, which are also some of the country’s top priorities for 2021.

Boosting digital infrastructure

China has been ramping up efforts to build out and improve what it calls “new infrastructure”. The broad term applies to a variety of technologies and related areas, including 5G networks, artificial intelligence (AI), cloud computing, the Internet of Things (IoT), high-speed rail and research institutions.

In his proposal for the national planning and development of information technology infrastructure, Lenovo CEO Yang Yuanqing placed a particular emphasis on data centres, an area he is familiar with as head of one of the world’s largest server providers.

Xiaomi founder and CEO Lei Jun speaks with journalists as he leaves a meeting one day ahead of the opening session of China's National People's Congress (NPC) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on March 4, 2019. Photo: AP
Xiaomi founder and CEO Lei Jun speaks with journalists as he leaves a meeting one day ahead of the opening session of China's National People's Congress (NPC) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on March 4, 2019. Photo: AP

Another industry-focused proposal came from Lei Jun, founder and CEO of smartphone giant Xiaomi. Lei called for a better policy environment, more collaboration between industry and academia, and more talent in intelligent manufacturing.

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