Lu Hao, governor of Heilongjiang province, addresses a provincial conference on Internet Plus in Harbin, on June 3. [Photo by Deng Bowen/dbw.cn]

China’s Heilongjiang province had a meeting in its capital, Harbin, on June 3, to explain the advantages of “Internet Plus” service and to ask all governmental departments and local enterprises to get involved with it.

On hand to address the gathering was Lu Hao, governor of the province, who said they should have an understanding of how to implement Internet Plus, which is a system that promotes the integration of traditional industry and the Internet, in the province and across the country, because the Internet has helped the province develop its agriculture, business, commerce, finance, education and medical care.

He described how “Internet Plus” can bring new ways of thinking, producing, and living and lead to new business and service models, which provide more opportunities for start-ups and innovation.

In addition to describing the advantages of “Internet Plus” service, Lu pointed out some of its weaknesses – low public awareness of it, uncompetitive participants, and insufficient understanding its difficulties – but noted that the province has a solid foundation for implementing the strategy, with its advanced science and technology, R&D, and at least 20 million visitors to serve.

In describing how to promote “Internet Plus”, Lu emphasized the need to apply it in the more advantageous sectors, such as modern agriculture, ecology, processing, and cross-border trade with Russia and suggested ways to integrate it with agriculture, tourism, medical care, logistics and education.

He also suggested that government departments take the lead in studying its use and creating a better atmosphere for its application, in accordance with different industries and sectors and that there needs to be infrastructure and better logistics to support it.

China came up with an "Internet Plus" plan that Premier Li Keqiang explained in a work report during the annual congress meetings this March, where he proposed combining the Internet with traditional industries online through the use of technology to create new growth.

Chairing the meeting was the deputy governor, Hu Yafeng, with Sun Yao, deputy governor, and other officials such as Harbin’s mayor Song Xibin, and enterprise representatives taking part.