A pedestrian walks past a 5G promotion board. [Photo by Su Yang/For China Daily]

The province of Shandong in East China has been intensifying efforts to speed up its digitalization and become a digital powerhouse.

According to the Shandong Provincial People's Government recently released action plan for "Digital Shandong", the province will focus on building a digital society, a digital government, and a healthy digital ecosystem.

The province will accelerate steps to leverage technologies to better assist citizens as more government services can be done online.

Shandong will continue to optimize its online government service platform that covers a slew of public services, streamline administrative procedures and reduce excessive use of materials, said local authorities.

More measures will be launched to develop the digital industry and transform traditional industries with digital technologies.

The province will promote innovation and breakthroughs in key areas such as integrated circuits and build about 10 digital industrial clusters for products such as new smart terminals and ultra-high-definition video.

Authorities will support the construction of the Jinan and Qingdao Artificial Intelligence Innovation and Application Pilot Zones, accelerate the construction of the "China Computing Valley" in Jinan, and promote the establishment of the Shandong Future Network Research Institute.

The province will speed up the development of digital agriculture with distinctive features and build 100 smart agriculture application bases and more than 16 smart pastures. Modern marine ranch development will also be advanced.

The province is also aiming to build a smart and convenient digital society. It will promote breakthroughs in the innovative application of big data, build new smart cities, and speed up the development of digital villages.