NPC spokesperson explains how China ensures data privacy, security

China ensures data privacy and security in accordance with the law and is opposed to overextending the concept of national security or politicizing economic and technological issues, said Lou Qinjian, spokesperson for the third session of the 14th National People's Congress, at a press conference on Tuesday.

The spokesperson made the remarks in response to a question on the popularity of DeepSeek, a Hangzhou-based AI startup, and concerns regarding the use of artificial intelligence. 

Lou said China is willing to work with countries worldwide to continue promoting the healthy development of artificial intelligence, boost global economic growth and enhance the well-being of people in all nations. China has proposed the Global AI Governance Initiative to bridge the technological divide and prevent technological innovation from becoming a game for wealthy countries and individuals, he added.

The spokesperson also lauded Chinese tech companies, exemplified by DeepSeek, for consistently achieving technological breakthroughs.

DeepSeek has developed models like DeepSeek-R1, which perform at par with leading American AI systems but were built at a fraction of the cost.

This achievement showcases the power of "frugal innovation," where constraints drive inventive solutions. Despite limited resources, DeepSeek's team developed innovative software solutions, circumventing the need for high-end hardware.

Additionally, iFlytek, a prominent Chinese technology company, has made significant advancements in artificial intelligence, particularly in speech recognition and natural language processing.

Their technologies have been integrated into various applications, including intelligent voice assistants and translation services, enhancing human-computer interaction and accessibility.

These examples fully demonstrate that adhering to innovation, openness and sharing to enhance people's well-being is the correct choice.

(Cover: The press conference for the third session of the 14th National People's Congress, Beijing, China, March 4, 2025. /VCG)