Jointly hosted by the State Information Center (SIC) and the Changsha Municipal People's Government, the 2021 Blockchain Service Network (BSN) Application and Innovation Summit (hereinafter referred to as the Summit) was held on May 28th, 2021. Liu Yunan, President of the SIC; Zhou Xiang, Deputy Director-General of the Publicity Department of CPC Hunan Provincial Committee; and Zheng Jianxin, Mayor of Changsha, delivered speeches respectively and together launched the backbone network of Hunan BSN, and the BSN service platform for the Changsha Municipal Government Extranet.

In his speech, Liu Yunan said that during the 14th Five-Year Plan period, China will fully shift its economic development model from quantity to quality by taking the initiative of development, which has made higher requirements for sci-tech innovations and more urgent needs of extensive use of new technologies. In this context, the development of blockchain technology and its application is a key initiative to follow global trends and implement national strategies. 

Liu Yunan said that SIC has thoroughly implemented the spirit of “promoting the development of blockchain technology and industrial innovation” highlighted by President Xi Jinping. Working together with China Mobile, China UnionPay and other relevant departments, SIC has conducted top-level design and R&D of BSN in the way of setting up more than 130 public city nodes around the world. It has connected five provincial backbone BSNs in Beijing, Hebei, Zhejiang, Fujian, and Hubei, and fueled a series of innovative applications in terms of charity, product traceability, electronic invoicing, copyright protection, and supply-chain management, all of which have effectively promoted the rapid spread and innovation of blockchain technology.

According to Liu Yunan, blockchain technology and application are thriving in China. Thus, it is imperative to guide the innovation and development of the industry to serve the national strategic decisions. 

Firstly, we should focus on the scenarios, and continually promote blockchain application and innovations so as to address hot topics in economic development, difficulties in social welfare and impediments to social governance. Typical cases and solutions shall be summarized and replicated to empower the development of digital economy.

Secondly, we should strengthen collaboration to steadily boost blockchain innovations. By promoting the collaborative innovation from the joint efforts of enterprises, universities, research institutes and the market, the basic research on blockchains shall be enhanced and key issues in blockchain technology be solved during the process of integrating AI, big data and Internet of Things with the improved capacity standing on one’s own feet.

Thirdly, we should promote collaboration and win-win strategies to cultivate blockchain ecosystems. By strengthening the development of relevant infrastructure and public service platforms, we shall promote efficient collaboration among blockchain enterprises and participant for a better combination of effective market and competent government, so as to ignite the internal driving force of the blockchain.

The BSN application & innovation base plaque awarding ceremony, BSN Hunan portal operator plaque awarding ceremony, and the BSN-relevant standards research launch ceremony were also held at the Summit. On behalf of the SIC, which is also the leading unit of the BSN Development Association, President Liu Yunan awarded plaques to the XingSha Blockchain Industrial Park, the Changsha Blockchain Industrial Park, and the Qingdao West Coast District.