China to launch three-year campaign to promote data use

China will launch a three-year campaign to promote the use of data as a factor of production in more scenarios, which will generate a multiplier effect in boosting the economy, an official with the National Data Administration (NDA) said in Beijing on Friday.

By advancing the use of data, China expects to improve resource allocation and foster new industries and new patterns as well as new growth drivers, Shen Zhulin, deputy head of the administration, told a press conference, citing the action plan for 2024 to 2026.

"Data, as a new production factor, has been quickly integrated into the process of production, consumption, circulation, distribution and social service management, and has become a key driving force for high-quality economic and social development," said Shen.

However, according to Shen, there is still room for improvement in terms of the quality of data supply, circulation mechanisms and the potential of data application, which will be a focus of this campaign.

Over the next three years, China will increase efforts to promote the high-level application of data, ensure the quality of data supply, improve the environment of data circulation and strengthen data security, said the action plan.

Shen said particular attention will be paid to 12 industries and areas, including industrial manufacturing, modern agriculture, commercial circulation and transport, with efforts to tap the potential of data and identify scenarios that give full play to the value of data.

The NDA was inaugurated in October as part of the country's efforts to advance the planning and building of a Digital China, the digital economy and a digital society. It is responsible for fostering the construction of data infrastructure and coordinating the integration, sharing, development and application of data resources.

(Cover via CFP.)