On April 7, Zhejiang Provincial People's Government and Alibaba Group signed an agreement on strategic partnership themed "Spring Thunder Initiative" in Hangzhou to promote the digital transformation of manufacturing in Zhejiang through joint efforts. This is also the first strategic partnership agreement signed by Alibaba after it launched the "2020 Spring Thunder Initiative" on the same day.

Daniel Zhang the chairman and CEO of Alibaba Group said that the strategic partnership agreement signed by Alibaba in Zhejiang once again proves that it's the best choice for Alibaba to establish its business base in Zhejiang Province which is playing a key role in supporting its business development as a leader in the digital industry which is knowledgeable and skilled in applying digital technology. 

"Spring Thunder Initiative" is a special action plan to support small and medium-sized enterprises launched by Alibaba since 2009. It is urgent to stimulate domestic demand, maintain the growth of foreign trade and support agricultural production during the current pandemic emergency. "2020 Spring Thunder Initiative" aims to help small and medium-sized enterprises tide over the current crisis by increasing supplies, market demand and trading based on Alibaba's strength in the digital industry it has built over the past 20 years.

According to the agreement, Alibaba and Zhejiang Province will work together to promote the digital transformation and high-quality development of the local manufacturing, expand the digital marketing networks to sell the local products to the whole country and the world and enhance the training of the local digital talents based on Alibaba's strength in the digital industry.

The two parties decided to establish 100 industrial bases in Zhejiang's well-known industrial zones and 100 manufacturers with annual revenue of over 100 Million yuan under the "C2M" Super Manufacturer Program, and develop 5 industrial zones with annual revenue of 100 million yuan in the well-developed cities and regions in Zhejiang Province within three years.

Daniel Zhang said that the "Spring Thunder Initiative" aims to help small and medium-sized enterprises not only pull through the current crisis and but also find opportunities for further development in the future based on Alibaba's strength in the digital industry under the support of the government.