More than 90 percent of China's high-tech companies have resumed work as of April 1, a senior official of the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) said at a press briefing on Friday. 

That follows the quarantine and work-from-home policies implemented across the country in the past three months to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus. 

Since the outbreak of the epidemic in China in January, its impact on technology companies, especially small-and-medium-sized ones, have been quite big, said Bao Xianhua, Director of Achievements Transformation and Regional Innovation Department of the MOST.  

But with their technological advantages and core competitiveness, these companies have shown strong resilience and good momentum of getting back to business, which have played a leading role for other enterprises, the official said.   

The average work resumption rate of over 30,000 small-and-medium-sized technology firms at the national high-tech industrial development zones across China reached 83.3 percent, he added. 

China to strengthen support of core technologies for “new infrastructure”

The ministry also said it will beef up research and development (R&D) support of crucial and core technologies for the construction of “new infrastructure.”   

The core technologies include advanced computing, core software, broadband communications, blockchain, optoelectronics, micro-nano electronics, artificial intelligence, new materials, etc, said Qin Yong, director of the ministry's high-tech department. 

New infrastructure refers to such sectors as 5G networks, big data, extra-high-voltage power transmission, industrial networks, Internet of Things, etc, according to a recent meeting of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee.  

During the epidemic, some new business models such as video conference, online education, online museum and digital entertainment have broken the limitations of time and space and made important contributions to ensure the normal functioning of people's everyday life amid strict social distancing, which also show great development potential, Qin said.  

He said the ministry will strengthen technological support and guidance of the new businesses, with an emphasis on the new model of healthcare industry, technology service industry, smart city, modern logistics, education service, etc., so as to boost the new momentum for economic development.