China has launched Data Express, the country's first English-language academic journal dedicated to data papers, in a move aimed at making Chinese scientific data more accessible to researchers worldwide.

The journal was officially launched at a conference in Beijing hosted by the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), which oversees the publication.

Unlike traditional journals that publish research findings, data journals publish datasets and the methods behind them, making valuable research data easier to find, access and reuse.

The launch comes as scientific data is becoming increasingly important in the age of artificial intelligence (AI). As researchers use AI to analyze vast amounts of information and accelerate discovery, access to high-quality datasets has become a growing priority in fields ranging from climate science and ecology to biomedicine and materials research.

Yu Guirui, a CAS academician and editor-in-chief of Data Express, said the journal responds to a "historic shift" in scientific research, with data becoming a key pillar of AI-driven discovery. He said the publication would help fill a gap in China's scientific publishing landscape.

According to CAS, the journal is intended to promote international scientific data sharing and improve the visibility and reuse of research datasets.

The academy also plans to launch additional data journals in fields including physics, ecology, biomedicine and engineering within the next year. Together, they will form a Data Express journal cluster focused on different scientific disciplines.

CAS said the initiative reflects China's efforts to play a larger role in global scientific data sharing and collaboration as data becomes an increasingly important resource for scientific research.

(With input from Xinhua)