Tang Xuan

General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "In today's era, digital technology, as the pioneering force of the world's scientific and technological revolution and industrial transformation, is increasingly integrated into all areas and processes of economic and social development, and profoundly changes the production mode, lifestyle and social governance mode." Digital technology provides an internal driving force for the comprehensive revitalization of rural areas. Empowering the comprehensive revitalization of rural areas with digital technology will help narrow the urban-rural gap, ensure that the dividends of digital development benefit the vast majority of farmers more and more equitably, and help achieve the grand goal of Chinese-style modernization.

At present, the digital divide between urban and rural areas in my country still exists. According to the 54th "Statistical Report on the Development of China's Internet" released in 2024, the Internet penetration rate in rural areas is 63.8%, lower than 85.3% in urban areas. This development gap restricts farmers' ability to obtain information, understand policies, and participate in the market economy to a certain extent, limits farmers' effective participation in the digital economy, and thus weakens the potential for economic and social development in rural areas. Therefore, to empower the comprehensive revitalization of rural areas with digital technology, we must improve rural infrastructure, improve farmers' digital literacy, promote the digital transformation of rural industries, eliminate the urban-rural digital divide, and achieve balanced sharing of digital resources.

Strengthen digital supply and build a solid foundation for modern rural information. Building a complete digital infrastructure is the prerequisite for promoting the comprehensive revitalization of rural areas. Data shows that as of the end of November 2024, my country has built and opened more than 4.19 million 5G base stations, and the 5G network is continuing to extend to the vast rural areas, and the goal of "5G in the 5G in the Countries" has been basically achieved. However, some rural remote areas still face prominent problems such as insufficient network coverage and insufficient signal strength. To this end, we must further increase the efforts to build digital infrastructure, give strong "digital wings" for rural development, truly make mobile phones a "new agricultural tool" for farmers in the new era, and promote the full popularization and application of diversified digital services such as smart agriculture, distance education, and online medical care in rural areas. We must accelerate the coverage of key digital resources such as 5G networks and fiber broadband to rural areas, build a digital "highway" that connects seamlessly and efficiently in urban and rural areas, make network coverage a "new infrastructure" for modern rural areas, and effectively make up for the shortcomings in rural infrastructure construction. Through scientific and reasonable policy guidance, market investment from multiple entities and continuous innovative technological leadership, we must comprehensively improve the digital access capabilities and levels of rural areas, provide solid and reliable basic conditions for the implementation of various digital applications, and steadily promote the comprehensive digital transformation of rural society.

Deepen digital cultivation and promote the improvement of farmers' digital literacy. Improving farmers' digital skills is a breakthrough and core measure to bridge the urban-rural digital divide and achieve digital inclusive development. We must build a multi-level, multi-form and comprehensive digital education and training system to help farmers master digital skills, so that they can flexibly transform their fingers into a "smart stylus" connecting the world and deeply integrate into the digital age. Especially for key groups such as rural elderly people, a special plan for "digital feeding" has been carefully formulated and implemented to tailor digital training courses that are simple and easy to learn and highly practical for the elderly. At the same time, we actively carry out "digital empowerment" special actions for returning young people and other groups. We adopt innovative training models and methods that integrate online and offline organically, adapt to the times and local conditions to ensure that every group can truly master digital skills, deeply participate in digital economic activities, truly realize the sharing of digital dividends for the whole people, and effectively promote digital inclusion and social fairness and justice.

Promote digital empowerment and activate the endogenous driving force for rural revitalization. Promoting the innovative application of digital technology and deeply integrating it with rural industries is the key to achieving rural industrial development and broadening channels for farmers to increase their income. General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized: "We must lead industrial innovation with scientific and technological innovation and actively cultivate and develop new quality productivity." Today, digital technology has been widely penetrated and applied to many fields such as agricultural production, rural e-commerce, live streaming and sales, allowing farmers to directly participate in the digital economy wave, open up new channels for increasing income and becoming rich, and effectively promote the optimization, transformation and upgrading of rural economic structure. According to statistics, rural online retail sales reached 2.49 trillion yuan in 2023. In the first three quarters of 2024, my country's rural online retail sales increased by 8.3% year-on-year. More and more farmers are successfully expanding the market with the help of digital platforms and increasing their income and becoming rich. At the same time, the application of digital technology in public service fields such as rural governance has greatly improved the supply efficiency and quality level of public services, and has effectively enhanced the sense of gain, happiness and security of the farmers. Digital empowerment is continuously injecting new vitality and strong impetus into the development of rural industries, and promoting the accelerated evolution of rural lifestyles in a direction of smarter, more convenient, efficient and comfortable.

(Author’s unit: School of Television, Communication University of China)