SHANGHAI — Shanghai authorities announced on April 13 its latest action plan to promote the new online economy, which has been thriving during the COVID-19 outbreak.

According to the plan, by 2022, Shanghai is expected to gather over 100 innovative online economy enterprises and launch more than 100 application scenarios, with an aim to turn itself into a development highland of the online economy with international influence.

The action plan focuses on 12 core areas, including unmanned factories, industrial internet, remote working, online finance, entertainment and exhibitions and contactless deliveries.

The plan proposes to build more than 100 unmanned factories, production lines and workshops in Shanghai and establish 20 industrial internet platforms with national influence.

It also aims to promote unmanned deliveries in the industries involving retail, medical service and dining, encourage the application of remote consultation and surgery based on 5G technology and further apply artificial intelligence in disease diagnosis and drug research and development.

Wu Jincheng, director of the Shanghai Municipal Commission of Economy and Information Technology, said the sudden outbreak of COVID-19 broke the original pattern of production and living, and the new online economy showed a booming trend.

Multiple online platforms have seen rapid growth in Shanghai during the epidemic. For example, a total of 11 online hospitals launched in the city have provided 14,000 diagnosis and treatment services and issued more than 4,300 prescriptions.

"The action plan aims to consolidate and promote the good practices that emerged during the virus outbreak and create new momentum for economic development," Wu said.