Editor's note: Meng Lanjuan is an associate professor at the School of International Studies, Communication University of China, Beijing. The article reflects the author's opinions, and not necessarily the views of CGTN.

Digital technology is being increasingly applied in various economic and social sectors in China's rural areas, and is completely transforming the outlook of villages, stereotypically characterized by deserted farmlands, obstructed communication, aging population and vanishing traditional culture.

As an important step toward China's rural modernization goals, the objective of the digital village system is to use ICT (information and communication technologies) to empower farmers and villages in agricultural and economic innovation, public governance and services, and ultimately, the sustainable development of villages. The urban-rural digital gap will be narrowed, or even closed, and the countryside will be more green and agreeable for inhabitants.

At its most basic level, digital village construction starts with the improvement of information infrastructure such as optical-fiber wideband, 4G mobile network, etc., and enabling the use of big data and smart technology in agricultural production and sale. Through agricultural cloud platforms, farmers could receive the latest meteorological information, as well as get real-time crop diagnosis and advice from experts. With the help of a QR code, manufacturers could attach product origin information and quality report to their commodities. The geographical distance that used to segregate rural areas is virtually obliterated.

The digital village initiative not only brings about the flow of technology and agricultural products, it is a revolutionary reconfiguration of factors of production in society. With development emphasis shifting to inland and rural areas in China, more resources and intellects will arrive to pump the digital rural development, creating new industries, businesses and employment opportunities. According to the China Digital Village Development Report, more than 3.95 million new jobs were created by the end of June 2020.

Digital village construction, an important step in realizing rural revitalization, intends to address the "three rural" (sannong) issues, which concern agricultural, farmer and rural communities, through extensive digital initiatives. To better equip farmers with knowledge and skills that are required of digital workers, on-site as well as online consulting sessions and training courses are provided by local governments, businesses, NGOs, etc. Tens of millions of people benefit from free educational resources. They learn to grow new commercial crops, operate pesticide spraying, post agricultural product information online, and chat with prospective buyers thousands of mile away by video.

Rural smart government is an important aspect of community and public service development. With the internet penetration rate in China's rural areas hitting 55.9 percent, smartphone apps are widely used tools of local governance. For example, more than 200 villages in Jiande City, eastern China's Zhejiang Province, use Alibaba's DingTalk for information accessing, grievance reporting, and e-government affairs. This improves the efficiency and standardization of digital government, and encourages active public participation.

Other aspects of the digital village community and social development are public security surveillance, smart medical care, poverty alleviation with digital technology, intelligent ecological environment protection, etc. To take poverty alleviation as example, multi-measures are taken to make sure digital technology benefits poor households and individuals. 

These measures include: lowering telecommunication fees, developing e-commerce infrastructure, increasing digital financial inclusion, offering distance education, providing online doctor consultation services for the poor, and so on. Online retail sales in China's rural areas increased to reach 1.79 trillion yuan ($276.2 billion) in 2020, from 180 billion yuan ($27.8 billion) in 2014, according to a report from the China Internet Network Information Center.

Building a digital village not only means material changes, but also progress of ideas and values. The development of the rural economy and life improvements make people rethink the potential of smart villages. Villages publicize natural scenery, local customs, agricultural practices, etc. via digital platforms to promote tourism. 

Repairing village architecture, protection of non-material cultural heritage, and digital preservation of ancient hamlets make people cherish their cultural traditions. The notion of a digital village is to make a harmonious existence of both agricultural and industrial civilization, and to strike a balance between traditional and modern ways of living and governing.

For a backward rural area, becoming a digital village may not be the best choice toward sustainable development, but it is a correct choice the state has made for its people. To narrow the gap of uneven development among regions, poverty alleviation has always been a priority among all political agendas in China. Under the guidance of poverty alleviation, digital village practices are carefully carried out. By the end of 2020, China had successfully eradicated extreme poverty in the country. As the next step, a digital village pilot project is being administered in 117 regions nationwide to explore and gather experience on digital village building.

The current model of digital village development is inseparable from the government's capacity in making policies based on local conditions, listening to the voice of the people, and always learning from past experiences and lessons. Although the central government has realized that different strategies are required for villages of different geographical locations, sizes, characteristics, and types, it is still a difficult task to tailor development plans to suit idiosyncratic needs of individual villages. 

Besides, data and algorithm should never replace, but augment people's rational judgement in order to fulfill the vision of "strong agriculture, prosperous farmers, and beautiful villages" for the digital village system.

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