Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, General Secretary Xi Jinping has attached great importance to the construction of “Digital China” and has repeatedly talked at important occasions about the importance of “Digital China.” We have specially selected the following eight sentences by General Secretary Xi Jinping on “Digital China” for the benefit of our readers.

党的十八大以来，习近平总书记高度重视“数字中国”建设，多次在重要场合谈及“数字中国”的重要性。以下特别梳理了习近平总书记提及“数字中国”的8句话，以飨读者。

New Media Magazine, Cyberspace  Administration of China, May 07, 2019

The Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) published an article titled, Eight Sentences by Xi Jinping to Help you Understand “Digital China” (习近平的8句话，带你读懂“数字中国”), in its periodic magazine New Media (网络传播) on May 07, 2019. CAC rebranded New Media as China Cyberspace (中国网信) earlier this year. Since the article (actually a teaching graphic) has not been available at its original link for some time (it is floating around in various forms elsewhere, albeit in shrinking numbers), I thought it would be worthwhile to translate the entire article (for continuity), and in two parts (for brevity).

For those of you who are just starting to look at this sort of material, please remember that this is Xi Jinping, the Communist Party’s “core” leader, speaking – some years ago – in elite domestic and international forums on the party’s comprehensive national drive to digitize, informatize, and intelligentize the entire nation. It is absolutely unprecedented for any world leader (someone please correct me if I’m wrong) to speak in these sorts of terms, although JFK calling for a man on the moon might be an analogy. Think about that for a second. Did we miss a signal?

Here are the first four of Xi’s “eight sentences.” Pay particular attention to “Three,” as it becomes a rich source for a new specialized Communist Party term-of-art (提法) regarding Digital China.

One:

China is implementing an “Internet” Action Plan, promoting the construction of “Digital China,” developing a sharing economy, supporting various innovations based on networking, and improving the quality and efficiency of development.

中国正在实施 “互联网“ 行动计划，推行 “数字中国” 建设，发展分享经济，支持基于联网的各类 创新，提高发展质量和效益。

Xi Jinping, Speech at the Opening Ceremony of the Second World Internet Conference, December 16, 2015 

Two:

Strengthen applied basic research; expand the implementation of major national science and technology projects; highlight key common technologies, cutting-edge leading technologies, modern engineering technologies, and disruptive technological innovations in order to provide strong support to build Science & Technology Great Power, Quality Great Power, Aerospace Great Power, Cyber Great Power, Transportation Great Power, Digital China, and Smart Society.

加强应用基础研究，拓展实施国家重大科技项目，突出关键共性技术，前沿引导技术，现代工程技术， 颠覆性技术创新，为建设科技强国，质量强国，航天强国，网络强国，交通强国，数字中国，智慧社会提供有力支撑。

Xi Jinping, Report to the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, October 18, 2017

Three：

[We] must build Cyber Great Power, Digital China, and Smart Society; promote deep fusion of the Internet, big data, and artificial intelligence with the real economy; develop the digital economy and sharing economy; [all to] cultivate new points for growth and build new momentum.

要建设网络强国，数字中国，智慧社会，推动互联网，大数据，人工智能和实体经济深度融合，发展数字经济，共享经济，培育新增长点，形成新动能。

Xi Jinping, Congratulatory Letter to the Fourth World Internet Conference, December 3, 2017

Four:

The development of big data is evolving rapidly. We should assess the situation, plan carefully, adopt a forward-thinking approach, and strive to be proactive. We should deeply understand the current situation and trends of big data development and its impact on economic and social development, analyze the achievements and existing problems of big data development in our country, promote the implementation of National Big Data Strategy, accelerate the improvement of digital infrastructure, promote the integration and open sharing of data resources, ensure data security, and accelerate Building Digital China, [all] to better serve our country’s economic and social development and improve people’s lives.

大数据发展日新月异，我们应该审时度势、精心谋划、超前布局、力争主动，深入了解大数据发展现状和趋势及其对经济社会发展的影响，分析我国大数据发展取得的成绩和存在的问题，推动实施国家大数据战略，加快完善数字基础设施，推进数据资源整合和开放共享，保障数据安全，加快建设数字中国，更好服务我国经济社会发展和人民生活改善。

Xi Jinping, Speech at the Second Collective Study Session of the Chinese Communist Party Central Committee’s Politburo