Published by ChinaMNC · Cheng

Longnan Party Secretary Meets China Telecom Gansu: Digital Cooperation Signals Opportunities for Foreign Founders in Gansu

A meeting between Longnan's Party Secretary and China Telecom Gansu highlights digital infrastructure, computing, AI and low-altitude economy priorities — practical context for foreign founders registering or operating companies in Gansu.

What the Meeting Was About

On 22 October, Liu Yongge, Party Secretary of Longnan, met with Sun Xiaodong, Party Secretary and General Manager of China Telecom Gansu Company, and his delegation. The two sides held a discussion on deepening cooperation between local government and enterprises (地企合作). Tang Jinjun also attended, according to the Longnan municipal government website.

For foreign founders evaluating Gansu as a place to register a company or run operations, the meeting is a useful signal of where local government attention and state-owned telecom resources are being directed. It is a government-enterprise exchange, not a policy announcement, so it should be read as context rather than as a rule change.

Longnan's Position and Priorities

Liu welcomed the delegation and thanked China Telecom Gansu for its long-standing interest in and support for Longnan's development. He described the company as having strong technical strength and service capability, and noted that it has worked closely with Longnan over several years in a number of fields:

• Smart education
• Government services
• Digital agriculture
• Intelligent construction of green mines
• Drone scenario applications

Liu said this cooperation had produced good results. He expressed the hope that China Telecom Gansu would continue to leverage its advantages in cloud networks, computing power, and artificial intelligence, and deepen coordination with Longnan in several areas:

• Digital infrastructure construction
• Development of the low-altitude economy
• Digital transformation of industry

He said he hoped this would lead to more fruitful outcomes in local-government-enterprise cooperation.

China Telecom Gansu's Stated Commitments

Sun introduced the company's reform and development, capacity building, and paired assistance (对口帮扶) work. He said China Telecom Gansu would actively align with Longnan's development needs and continue to deepen cooperation in areas including:

• Computing power infrastructure
• Next-generation communications networks
• Smart cities
• Digital empowerment of industrial development

He added that the company would continue its paired assistance work and contribute more to Longnan's high-quality economic and social development.

Why Foreign Founders Should Care

Foreign founders often ask where to set up a wholly foreign-owned enterprise (WFOE) or a joint venture in China, and how to read local government priorities. Meetings like this one are one of the few public windows into those priorities. Several practical takeaways follow from the source, without going beyond it.

1. Digital and telecom-adjacent sectors are in focus

The fields named in the discussion — cloud networks, computing power, AI, next-generation communications, smart cities, digital agriculture, smart education, and drones — are areas where local government and a major state-owned telecom carrier are actively cooperating. Foreign founders in software, data services, industrial digitalization, or drone-related applications may find that their sector aligns with stated local priorities. Alignment does not create entitlements, but it can shape how a project is received.

2. The low-altitude economy is on the local agenda

Liu specifically named the low-altitude economy as an area for deeper coordination. For founders working on drone applications, aerial data, or related services, this is a signal that the topic is being discussed at the municipal level in Longnan. The source does not describe any specific policy, permit, or incentive, so founders should verify the current regulatory position with local authorities and professional advisers.

3. State-owned enterprises are potential partners and customers

The meeting shows a working relationship between a municipal government and a provincial telecom company spanning multiple projects. For foreign-invested companies, large state-owned telecom carriers can be relevant as connectivity providers, cloud and computing suppliers, or channel partners. Understanding that these relationships exist — and that they are formalized through government-enterprise cooperation — helps founders plan stakeholder mapping early.

4. Paired assistance is part of the local operating context

Sun referred to China Telecom Gansu's paired assistance work in Longnan. This is a common mechanism in which a designated unit supports a locality. For founders, the practical point is that local development in places like Longnan is shaped by both municipal authorities and external supporting institutions; knowing who is involved can inform introductions and site selection.

Practical Steps for Founders

• Map the stakeholders. Identify the municipal government bodies and state-owned enterprises active in your sector, as this meeting illustrates for digital and telecom fields in Longnan.
• Check sector alignment. Compare your business scope with the fields named in local government discussions. If your activity touches digital infrastructure, AI, smart city services, or drone applications, local counterparts may already have relevant programs.
• Confirm the regulatory baseline independently. The source describes intentions and cooperation areas, not approvals. Registration, foreign investment rules, telecom licensing, and drone operation rules should be confirmed with qualified local counsel.
• Treat meetings as signals, not commitments. A discussion between officials and a company does not create rights for third parties. Use it to understand direction, then validate with your own due diligence.

What the Source Does Not Say

The article does not announce new policies, incentives, investment amounts, timelines, or procurement opportunities. It does not state that foreign investment is specifically targeted. It records a courtesy meeting and an exchange on cooperation. Founders should not infer guarantees from it.

This summary is based on information published by the relevant Chinese government website and is general information, not legal or tax advice.