Zhangjiagang, a county-level city in East China’s Jiangsu province, has become a national model for smart city development, according to a report released at a smart city development forum in Beijing on Jan 14.

A smart medical service solution submitted by the city beat out around 400 competitors from around the country to earn a spot on a list of outstanding models for smart city development. The list also included Shenzhen, Hangzhou, Xiamen, and another 17 cities.

Zhangjiagang is the only city in Jiangsu province to make the list, as well as the only county-level city.

In recent years, the local government has been making efforts to promote the development of a smart city. It has worked out an overall plan consisting of upgrading four types of information infrastructure, establishing an urban digital platform and an urban operation center, and carrying out five innovative applications of intelligent technology.

The local government also signed a cooperation agreement with Chinese tech giant Huawei to develop the country’s first smart city application innovation center in Dec 2019.

Smart medical services, a key part of smart city development, have been taking shape in the city. More than 30 systems for public health, medical services, administrative affairs, and personal affairs have already been established in more than 220 community medical service institutes and 20 private medical institutes.

The data have not only been used for medical services, but also shared with the local civil affairs department to ensure that people in need can receive timely financial assistance.