Beijing is ramping up efforts to position itself as a global benchmark in the digital economy, with new initiatives in artificial intelligence, infrastructure, data governance, and cross-border data reform.

As of 2024, Beijing was home to over 2,400 AI companies, with core industry revenues surpassing 300 billion yuan ($41.39 billion). The city has also registered 105 large AI models — more than any other region in China.

Liu Weiliang, deputy director and spokesperson for the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Economy and Information Technology, said the city will focus on breakthroughs in cutting-edge technologies such as brain-computer interface and quantum information, aiming to achieve more globally competitive results. Beijing will also promote the use of large AI models in scientific research to explore new research models, Liu said.

To strengthen digital infrastructure, Beijing plans to build more than 5,000 new 5G-A base stations this year and accelerate the development of four public computing centers in Haidian district, Chaoyang district, Beijing E-Town, and western Beijing, pushing the city's total computing power beyond 45,000 petaflops. It will also move forward with a number of landmark projects, including the launch of three ultra-HD livestream stages and 30 immersive digital theaters.

Beijing is also leading the way in reforming cross-border data flows, as the city has achieved several national firsts, including the first approved outbound data security assessment, the first standardized personal data export contract, and the first "green channel" for foreign-invested firms, according to Wang Fei, deputy director of the Beijing Cyberspace Administration.

To date, a total of 59 companies have passed national data security reviews, and 224 have completed standard contract filings, placing Beijing at the forefront nationally in both diversity and approval rates.

Wang added that a version 2.0 reform plan for cross-border data flow is in development, designed to address real business needs with coordinated measures across policy, data use, enterprise services, technology, industry support, and security. The new policies will be unveiled on March 27 at the Zhongguancun Forum.

The city is also accelerating the development of next-generation AI models with better performance, lower energy consumption, and more diverse architectures. 

In addition, Beijing will establish a "One Zone, Three Centers" framework, creating a citywide pilot zone for data market reforms and building a national data management center, a data resource center, and a data flow trading center.

Peng Xuehai, deputy director of the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Government Services and Data Management, said the initiative aims to unlock the full value of data as a key production factor, accelerate the development of a data market system, and grow a robust data industry.

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