中文

Speakers:

Mr. Kang Yi, deputy head of the Leading Group of the State Council for the Fifth National Economic Census and commissioner of the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS)

Mr. Lin Tao, director of the General Office of the Leading Group of the State Council for the Fifth National Economic Census and deputy commissioner of the NBS

Mr. He Ping, director of the Census Center of the NBS

Ms. Wang Guanhua, deputy director general of the Department of Comprehensive Statistics of the NBS

Chairperson:

Ms. Shou Xiaoli, director general of the Press Bureau of the State Council Information Office (SCIO) and spokesperson of the SCIO

Date:

Dec. 26, 2024

Shou Xiaoli:

Ladies and gentlemen, good afternoon. Welcome to this press conference held by the State Council Information Office (SCIO). We have invited Mr. Kang Yi, deputy head of the Leading Group of the State Council for the Fifth National Economic Census and commissioner of the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), to introduce the outcomes of the fifth national economic census and answer your questions. Also attending today's press conference are: Mr. Lin Tao, director of the General Office of the Leading Group of the State Council for the Fifth National Economic Census and deputy commissioner of the NBS; Mr. He Ping, director of the Census Center of the NBS; and Ms. Wang Guanhua, deputy director general of the Department of Comprehensive Statistics of the NBS.

Now, I'll give the floor to Mr. Kang for his brief introduction.

Kang Yi:

Good afternoon, friends from the media. I am pleased to attend today's press conference held by the SCIO on the fifth national economic census. The economic census is a major national survey of the country's economic strength, and an important means to comprehensively understand and grasp the economic foundation. According to the Regulations on National Economic Census, the economic census is conducted once every five years, and is implemented in years ending with a three and an eight. Our country has successively conducted five national economic censuses. The fifth, carried out in 2023, comprehensively ascertained the economic foundation of China's secondary and tertiary industries that year.

Before the release of the census data, on behalf of the NBS and the Office of the Leading Group of the State Council for the Fifth National Economic Census, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to all the participants, supporters, census workers, census supervisors, journalists and all sectors of society who have worked hard on the census.

Next, I will brief you the results of the national census data, and then my colleagues and I will answer your questions.

In accordance with the decisions and arrangements of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the State Council, all regions and departments strictly implemented the Regulations on National Economic Census and the Notice of the State Council on Conducting the Fifth National Economic Census, coordinated planning and implementation, strengthened collaboration and cooperation, and carried out the fifth national economic census in a solid and orderly manner. After the joint efforts of more than 2.1 million enumerators nationwide, the data collection, review and evaluation work has been successfully completed. The census presented a general picture of the secondary and tertiary industries, reflecting the new achievements of China's economic and social development. The census results show that the number of units in the secondary and tertiary industries has increased significantly, with more people being employed. The scale of enterprise assets continued to grow, business revenue grew fast, technological innovation ability continued to improve, and labor productivity was improved. The industrial structure was optimized and upgraded, the digital economy grew stronger, and the coordinated and balanced regional development was strengthened. Over the past five years, China has achieved significant results in high-quality development.

First, the main objectives and content of the census. 

The main objectives of the fifth national economic census were to take a complete survey of China's secondary and tertiary industries in terms of their scale, layout and performance, to get a clear picture of the basic situation of all types of units and grasp the economic linkages between sectors of the national economy, and to objectively reflect the progress in promoting high-quality development, creating a new pattern of development, building a modernized economy, deepening supply-side structural reform as well as in innovation-driven development, coordinated regional development, ecological conservation, high-standard opening up and development of public service system. The census will assist to consolidate the foundation of statistics and advance the statistical modernization reform, thus providing scientific and accurate information support to strengthen and improve macroeconomic governance, formulate medium- and long-term development plan in a scientific way and build China into a modern socialist country in all respects.

The fifth national economic census is an essential survey of national conditions and strength. Over two years since November 2022, the work in census agency establishment, publicity and mobilization, formulation of plan, pilot tests, personnel training, demarcation of census areas, inventory checking, field enumeration, data review and acceptance, data quality check, data aggregation and evaluation has been completed successfully. At present, the census has entered the phase of dissemination of major data, and development and application of data.

Second, the main characteristics of the census.

First, the census was carefully planned and implemented with guarantee measures efficiently taken. The CPC Central Committee and the State Council attached great importance to the fifth national economic census. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out that the fifth national economic census should be carried out solidly. All regions and departments concerned included the census into their priority agenda, strengthened coordination and leadership, and ensured the responsibilities for the census were fulfilled. Local governments at different levels set up census agencies in time, enhanced coordination and broke down tasks in detail. The Office of the Leading Group and member departments actively fulfilled their duties, advanced information sharing and provided multiple guarantees, laying a solid foundation for the successful implementation of the census.

Second, we strengthened top-level design and strictly implemented the process specifications of the census. After conducting special pilot tests and comprehensive pilot test, the Plan for the Fifth National Economic Census was formulated and corresponding implementation measures were developed by all regions and relevant departments. Strong census teams were organized at local levels, multi-level and systematic professional trainings were conducted for over 2.10 million enumerators and enumeration instructors, and inventory checking, field enumeration and sample survey of self-employed units were implemented in a normative and orderly manner. Finance, railway and some other government departments as well as relevant units conducted the census of their own sectors. Finance, railway and some other government departments as well as relevant units conducted the census of their own sectors.

Third, we enhanced the quality and efficiency of the census, and conducted the input-output surveys simultaneously. To facilitate the alignment of economic aggregate data and structural data, the census incorporated the input-output survey while taking into account the differences in survey content and methodology, which effectively integrated business procedures with separate goals and demands accommodated. A unified electronic ledger for nearly 80,000 units for input-output survey was formed for the first time, which enabled early preparation of survey data by respondents, thus effectively reducing their reporting burden. The comparison and checking of input-output survey data with census data were strengthened to make the data better coordinated and aligned.

Fourth, we innovated census processes to enhance the efficiency of the census work. Data sharing and application between government departments were further intensified with administrative records from departments including staffing, civil affairs, taxation and market regulation effectively integrated, providing data basis for inventory checking and census registration. The application of modern information technologies was promoted. A data collection and processing system with a unified collection mode was innovatively developed, which enabled a combination of online reporting and field data collection via mobile terminals for the census, and allowed the respondents to report data online on their own. Therefore, the census quality and efficiency were improved comprehensively.

Fifth, we prevented and tackled census fraud, and ensured data authenticity and quality. Following the principle of conducting the census according to the law, with a scientific approach and for the benefit of the people, we strengthened the management of data quality throughout the process, and prevented and addressed statistical fraud to ensure the authenticity of the data. We carried out extensive publicity and mobilization work, holding a variety of educational and engaging activities to strive for understanding and support from census respondents and to foster a positive atmosphere for the census. We rigorously investigated and addressed violations of laws and regulations related to the census, and promptly rectified non-standard practices to ensure the quality of source data.

The post-enumeration checks for the fifth national economic census showed that the combined error rate was 4.7‰, meeting the established standards for data quality.

Third, the main data of the census.

I. Economic entities. By the end of 2023, China had a total of 33.27 million legal entities engaged in secondary and tertiary industry activities, an increase of 11.481 million or 52.7% compared to the end of 2018. There were 36.36 million industrial activity units, up by 11.81 million or 48.1%, and 87.995 million self-employed units, up by 25.036 million or 39.8%.

In terms of sectors, the three largest sectors for legal entities in the secondary and tertiary industries were: wholesale and retail trade with 10.197 million, accounting for 30.6%; leasing and business services with 4.609 million, accounting for 13.8%; and manufacturing with 4.049 million, accounting for 12.2%.

In terms of regions, the eastern region had 17.941 million legal entities in the secondary and tertiary industries, accounting for 53.9%, down 2 percentage points from the end of 2018; the central region had 7.334 million, accounting for 22%, up by 1.4 percentage points; the western region had 6.372 million, accounting for 19.2%, up by 0.6 percentage point; and the northeastern region had 1.623 million, accounting for 4.9%, which is basically the same as that of the end of 2018.

II. Employed personnel. By the end of 2023, the number of people employed in legal entities within the secondary and tertiary industries nationwide reached 430 million, an increase of 45.748 million or up by 11.9% compared with the end of 2018. Among them, 170 million were female. There were 160 million employees in the secondary industry, a decrease of 8.263 million people or 4.8%; and 260 million employees in the tertiary industry, an increase of 54.012 million people or 25.6%. There were 180 million self-employed individuals, of which 84.2 million were female.

In terms of sectors, the three largest sectors for the number of employees in the secondary and tertiary industries were: manufacturing with 100 million people, accounting for 24.4%; wholesale and retail trade with 53.25 million people, accounting for 12.4%; and construction with 51.17 million people, accounting for 11.9%.

In terms of regions, the number of people employed by legal entities in the secondary and tertiary industries in the eastern region was 220 million, accounting for 52.3%, down 1.8 percentage points compared with the end of 2018; in the central region it was 98.907 million, accounting for 23.1%, up 1.1 percentage points; in the western region it was 86.32 million, accounting for 20.1%, up 0.8 percentage point; and in the northeastern region it was 19.428 million, accounting for 4.5%, down 0.2 percentage point.

III. Assets, liabilities and business revenue. In terms of assets, at the end of 2023, the total assets of legal entities in the secondary and tertiary industries nationwide amounted to 1,439.1 trillion yuan. Among this, those of legal entities in the secondary industry accounted for 252.1 trillion yuan, and those of legal entities in the tertiary industry accounted for 1,187 trillion yuan. In terms of liabilities, the total liabilities of legal entities in the secondary and tertiary industries were 975.4 trillion yuan. Among this, those of legal entities in the secondary industry were 150.2 trillion yuan, and those of legal entities in the tertiary industry were 825.2 trillion yuan. In terms of business revenue, in 2023, that of corporate enterprises in the secondary and tertiary industries was 442.6 trillion yuan, up by 50.2% compared with 2018. Among this, the business revenue of corporate enterprises in the secondary industry was 188.8 trillion yuan, up by 31.3%; and that of corporate enterprises in the tertiary industry was 253.8 trillion yuan, up by 68.3%.

IV. Core industries of digital economy. At the end of 2023, there were 2.916 million corporate enterprises engaged in the core industries of the digital economy, with 36.159 million employees. The business revenue in 2023 reached 48.4 trillion yuan. Specifically, 262,000 corporate enterprises were engaged in digital product manufacturing, employing 13.372 million people and with 20.5 trillion yuan in business revenue; 274,000 corporate enterprises were engaged in digital product services, employing 1.519 million people and with 4.2 trillion yuan in business revenue; 1.43 million corporate enterprises were engaged in digital technology application, employing 14.609 million people and with 14 trillion yuan in business revenue; and 950,000 corporate enterprises were engaged in industries driven by digital factors, employing 6.659 million people and with 9.7 trillion yuan in business revenue.

V. Emerging industries. At the end of 2023, there were 96,000 industrial corporate enterprises above designated size engaged in the strategic emerging industries; and 62,000 service corporate enterprises above designated size engaged in the strategic emerging industries. There were 53,000 high-tech manufacturing corporate enterprises above designated size with a business revenue of 22.5 trillion yuan; and 65,000 high-tech service corporate enterprises above designated size with a business revenue of 15.7 trillion yuan. In 2023, the full-time equivalent of R&D personnel in industrial corporate enterprises above designated size was 4.817 million person-years, and the R&D expenditure was 2.1 trillion yuan.

Fourth, the revision of GDP during the census year.

According to the system of national accounts and international practices, the NBS revised the GDP of the census year (2023) based on the data of the fifth national economic census and relevant administrative records. The process also factored in the change of the accounting approach of the owner-occupied housing services of urban households. The revised GDP of 2023 was 129.4 trillion yuan, which is 3.4 trillion yuan more than the preliminary accounting, or up by 2.7%. The details of the revised data will soon be released on the official website of the NBS.

Generally speaking, the fifth national economic census has yielded fruitful results with its major data objectively reflecting the latest progress and achievements of China's economic and social development over the past five years. Going forward, we will firmly implement the guiding principles of the third plenary session of the 20th CPC Central Committee, focus on the reform targets and tasks set by the CPC Central Committee and the State Council, and promote the implementation of statistical reform tasks. We will release more detailed census results successively to the public, such as economic census yearbook and interpretation reports through multiple channels, and actively organize in-depth development and application of the census data to fully leverage their value. By doing so, we will provide authentic and reliable statistics to support the comprehensive deepening of the reform and advancement of Chinese modernization. Thank you.

Shou Xiaoli:

Thank you for your introduction, Mr. Kang. The floor is now open for questions. Please identify the media outlet you work for before asking your question.