China's "Belt and Road" initiative is a landmark project initiated by President Xi Jinping. (Photo : Reuters)
Tsinghua Tongfang Co., Ltd. and Dunhuang Smart Tourism Co., Ltd. have joined hands to develop Dunhuang into a smart city, China Daily reported.
Located in Gansu province, the county-level city was regarded as a major stop on the ancient Silk Road.
In a bid to welcome its new role in the Belt and Road Initiative, the partnership is seen as a pivotal way to integrate information technology into its development.
The local government eyes to invest 1.3 billion yuan."As mapped, the overall plan includes 'one center, nine sectors and thirty-one projects', the two underway platforms are part of the 'one center'", Sun Xiaoqiang, the president of government-backed Dunhuang Smart Tourism Co., Ltd., revealed.
Xia Zongchun, the general manager of the Tsinghua Tongfang Co., Ltd.' s Smart City and General Integration Bureau, explained that "the project is to build a basic platform for Dunhuang's Smart City Plan and will play a prospective role in the whole map."
"We will help Dunhuang to develop a data center, a platform for sharing and exchanging information, five basic libraries, a geospatial information platform, a smart decision-making system, a credit management platform, a public platform for government affairs and a gateway website. The item amount is 27 million yuan ($4.06 million)," Xia added.
Known for its historic significance, Dunhuang is once again pushed to the frontline as China embarks on its iconic Belt and Road initiative.
"We hope the world can hear the voice of Dunhuang via technology," Sun shared.
Tsinghua Tongfang Co., Ltd. has built its reputation in the smart city industry for using Tsinghua University's strengths in research and human resources, and has become a giant in the smart city industry.
"We offer one-stop service to our clients---investment, construction and operation of a smart city," Xia enthused.
"We appreciate Tongfang's strong academic background and rich experience in how to build smart cities." Liu Xiaofeng, the general manager of Dunhuang Smart Tourism Co., Ltd., remarked.
Established in 1997, Tongfang Co., Ltd. is a high-tech firm whose minor businesses include "information, security and energy-saving technology" and "financial investment and Science Park."
