The county-level city of Zhangjiagang in East China's Jiangsu province has been working in overdrive to develop into a smart city in recent years. [Photo/zjgonline.com.cn]

The county-level city of Zhangjiagang in East China's Jiangsu province has been working to become a smart city in recent years, according to a local news report on Sept 4.

The city signed a strategic cooperation agreement with China's telecom giant Huawei in 2019, with Huawei agreeing to help Zhangjiagang build a smart city center.

With the help of Huawei, Zhangjiagang has seen some initial success in transforming into a smart city. A digital platform offering services related to big data, geographical indications (GIS), and artificial intelligence was built in the city, helping it integrate advanced technologies with urban management.

Efforts have also been made to promote the intelligent transformation of government services. The government has launched several dedicated mini programs to provide online services to the public, allowing people to access more government services through a single website.

Zhangjiagang's transformation into a smart city has greatly improved the city's business environment.

According to local authorities, it now takes no more than five working days to complete all verification procedures for companies looking to go public, thanks to the adoption of online procedures.