China plans digital version of national identification card later this year, premier says

Premier Li Keqiang announced on Friday that the Chinese government would introduce a digital version of the national identification card this year, enabling better government services for an increasingly cyber-savvy population. Speaking at the annual briefing at the end of the National People's Congress, Li said one aim was to better meet the "Basic living needs concerning daily lives" of more than 100 million citizens who live away from their home province. He said: "Some are elderly people living away from their hometown with their children in the other cities, some are there for jobs and education. They have to run back and forth to get things done. So getting things done interprovincially has become a new constant demand for the Chinese people." "One policy from the government this year is to make ID cards electronic, so that relevant information can be accessed by a simple scan of the code on the cellphone," he said. Beijing plans a roll-out nationwide this year of a digital version of national identification cards. The premier added that the government would also provide convenience for those people - especially the elderly - who do not use smartphones and that there would be protocols to ensure information security and protect privacy.