China will continue to take multiple measures to promote the development of small and medium-sized specialized and sophisticated enterprises (SMEs) that produce new and unique products, said Shan Zhongde, vice minister of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology.
In an exclusive interview with the China Central Television (CCTV), Shan noted that in the first half of this year, they had strived to solve urgent problems facing SMEs and empowered them.
"We have strived to solve urgent problems facing the enterprises and guided them to use special and sophisticated technologies. First, we provided them with accurate service. We facilitated the establishment of more than 1,700 public service institutions for SMEs spanning national, provincial, municipal, and county levels, forming a comprehensive network for SMEs across the country. Second, we implemented targeted measures to assist SMEs proactively, undertaking practical initiatives to solve their issues. Third, we implemented targeted measures to empower SMEs. We organized over 100 financing and matchmaking events involving more than 10,000 large, medium, and small enterprises, effectively helping SMEs to get technological achievements," said Shan.
He said that their work has yielded fruitful results. In the first five months of this year, the added value of small and medium-sized industrial enterprises above a designated size increased by 7.5 percent year on year, faster than that of large enterprises.
"We have made out efforts to facilitate the digital transformation of SMEs. We have worked with the Ministry of Finance to establish pilot cities for the digital transformation of SMEs. Our plan aims to facilitate the digital transformation of 40,000 SMEs across 100 cities within three years. In addition, we have actively promoted the integrated development of large, medium, and small enterprises, continued to deepen reforms and supported specialized and sophisticated enterprises that produce new and unique products to participate in the construction of key industrial chains and high-tech parks," the vice minister said.
"We will strengthen support for specialized and sophisticated enterprises that produce new and unique products. Firstly, we will enhance innovation. We will encourage SMEs to focus on niche areas, and implement a new round of financial support policies to guide specialized and sophisticated SMEs that produce new and unique products to continue to increase their investment in innovation in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance. Secondly, we will strengthen talent cultivation. Thirdly, we will improve the categorized program for cultivating SMEs. We have established an evaluation system for the high-quality development of the specialized and sophisticated SMEs that produce new and unique products, and improve the dynamic management mechanism of ‘entry and exit’. Fourthly, we will enhance openness and cooperation. We will launch a special campaign to help SMEs expand internationally and continue to develop Chinese and foreign SMEs cooperation zones and industrial clusters of characteristic SMEs," Shan said.
China takes multiple measures to further promote development of SMEs: official
Residents at a temporary shelter in South Korea are coming to terms with the shock of losing their homes in the worst wildfires in the country's history, with the deadly blazes which have been burning since late last month forcing tens of thousands of people to be evacuated.
The devastating fires -- which first erupted back on March 21 -- have claimed the lives of at least 30 people and injured dozens of others, while more than 3,500 houses and 30 national heritage sites have been damaged.
The flames have so far spread across more than 48,000 hectares of land, according to the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters.
Shell-shocked local people have been sharing the horrifying stories of how they became overwhelmed by the fast-spreading flames and had to rush from their homes.
Jo Soo-gap, a resident of the Yeongdeok County in the severely affected North Gyeongsang Province, told the China Global Television Network (CGTN) of the moment the flames approached.
"We didn't think it would come all the way to our area. That evening, while we were at home, the wind picked up. It felt stronger than a typhoon. I thought it was getting dangerous, so l was preparing to leave with my wife. Then suddenly a neighbor shouted, 'The fire's coming! Get out now!' So we just got in the car and drove toward Pohang,” he recalled.
"When we finally returned at dawn, we found our house had completely burned down and collapsed. Other homes, even if they were mostly destroyed, still had some parts of the frame left. But ours was a two-story villa-style home, and it had completely caved in – flattened right down to its foundation. There was nothing for us left to retrieve,” lamented Jo.
He expressed the hope that the government would help him and his family, as well as the many others affected, to rebuild their homes, while issuing a clear warning to others about the dangers posed by wildfires.
"We hope recovery efforts can proceed quickly, and that the government or local authorities can provide permanent housing so we can rebuild our lives. Fire prevention is no small matter, people should never carry any flammable objects when going into the mountains or fields. I want to emphasize this very clearly," he said.
Meanwhile, Kim Woo-seok, chairman of the Pohang Medical Association, explained how medics are handling the various problems brought by the wildfires, with a particular focus being placed on the welfare of those suffering from chronic diseases.
"The most pressing concern for us is people with chronic illnesses, such as those with high blood pressure or diabetes who need to constantly take their medication. Some patients did not have time to grab their medicines during the evacuation, and the drug withdrawal can cause sudden spikes in their blood pressure or blood sugar levels. So it's crucial that we monitor and stabilize their conditions as quickly as possible,” he said.
Kim stressed that the psychological trauma brought by the wildfires is the most pressing issue, as people slowly come to terms with the significant losses they have suffered.
"However, the biggest emotional shock comes from losing one's home or seeing a loved one fall ill. Those situations can cause severe emotional trauma. People can develop symptoms like panic attacks or depression as a result. These issues require proper counseling and treatment, as the emotional stress can also cause physical symptoms, such as back pain or joint pain. Those are the common cases we see," he said.
Shell-shocked South Korean evacuees lament loss of homes in deadly wildfires
