The Chongqing Municipal Government inked a strategic cooperation agreement with Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba Group and its financial subsidiary Ant Financial on Feb 28, to integrate more intelligent services into people’s day-to-day lives.

Ant Financial, the internet finance arm of Alibaba Group, operates the popular Alipay payment system, China’s largest domestic online payment platform.

The joint efforts will cover establishing center for western China; cloud computing and big data; internet financial services in rural areas; new mode of intelligent city; rural Taobao and cross-border e-commerce; internet health care and intelligent logistics.

Chongqing agrees to cooperate with Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba Group and its subsidiary Ant Financial on Feb 28, to integrate more intelligent services for people in their day-to-day lives. [Photo/liangjiang.gov.cn]

Western innovation center

The three sides will cooperate to build the Alibaba Innovation Center providing a comprehensive service platform for startups and entrepreneurs in western China. Startups and entrepreneurs can enjoy low-cost, convenient and networked services. The center will drive the development of innovation in industry and fuel grassroots entrepreneurship.

The Alibaba Innovation Center will be built to provide a comprehensive service platform for startups and entrepreneurs in western China. [Photo/liangjiang.gov.cn]

Cloud computing and big data

An internet “ecosphere” of Ali YunOS, the mobile phone operating system supported by Alibaba’s cloud computing platform will be built, integrating various intelligent terminal industries including automobile, mobile phones, laptop and television. Innovative businesses will be available in the related field of telematics, internet of things and smart homes.

Country financing and poverty alleviation

Chongqing will cooperate with Ant Financial to alleviate poverty in rural areas through a creative model of countryside financial services. Ant Financial will set up countryside financing demonstrative districts and counties to help people in nine districts and counties of Chongqing out of poverty in 2017.

New mode of intelligent city

To provide more convenient public services and better urban management, the three sides will build Chongqing into an intelligent city focusing on information-related construction in the fields of medical treatment, transportation, livelihood, tourism, and business. More services will be accessed via mobile phones such as tax payments, ID card renewals, passport applications, and metro fares.

Rural Taobao Rural

Taobao is an ambitious project by Alibaba to turn China’s 600 million rural residents into online shoppers and sellers. The company will create a comprehensive service system in Chongqing’s rural areas including Taobao Rural Service Centers, where Alibaba will provide internet connections along with purchasing and delivery services to help locals sell their special agricultural products to other parts of China.

Internet healthcare

Further cooperation will be carried out in the field of healthcare in Chongqing through setting up pilot internet hospitals and online hospital networks. At present some 24 hospitals in Chongqing have linked up with the Alipay for services and payment. Using the app, patients can register for appointments, pay for and receive reports, which can save up to 60 percent in waiting times. In future, Alipay will connect with social security or medical insurance accounts to allow patients to pay for services and buy medicine on their phone.

Edited by Owen Fishwick