Official Launch of China's National Data Bureau: "Data Work Following Socialism with Chinese Characteristics"

China's newly established National Data Bureau, which was planned amid controversy last March, has recently been officially launched. While the bureau promotes digital storage management, some have criticized its establishment as a regulation aimed at data and information control.

According to local media such as Xinhua News Agency and Caixin on the 25th, the National Data Bureau held its official inauguration ceremony in Beijing that morning. Liu Liehong, former CEO of China Unicom, was appointed as the first director, and Xun Zhulin, former head of the Advanced Technology Department at the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), was appointed as deputy director. The Data Bureau operates under the NDRC, and its director holds a vice-ministerial rank.

On the morning of the 25th, the official launch ceremony of the National Data Bureau was held in Beijing, China. (Photo by Caixin)

At the inauguration ceremony, Ding Xuexiang, Vice Premier of the State Council of China, attended and stated, "The establishment of the Data Bureau is a significant decision made by the Party Central Committee, with Xi Jinping at its core, from a comprehensive and strategic perspective." He emphasized, "Under the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, the Party Central Committee and the State Council's decisions and deployments on data work must be thoroughly implemented, and the planning and construction of Digital China must be coordinated and promoted." Vice Premier Ding further explained, "The digital economy, society, and data infrastructure systems will be coordinated and promoted," adding, "Digital resources will be integrated, shared, developed, and utilized to empower economic and social development."

The National Data Bureau's establishment plan was disclosed through the National People's Congress (NPC) last March. At that time, the State Council introduced that the bureau would take over tasks such as promoting the digital economy development plan managed by the NDRC, implementing the national big data strategy, establishing basic data-related systems, and constructing data infrastructure. However, externally, it was anticipated that the bureau's establishment would strengthen data control. In particular, it was expected to oversee the management and supervision of data generated by multinational companies within China to prevent external leakage.

Although the Data Bureau was officially launched on this day, it had already begun activities earlier. The bureau co-hosted the Digital Economy High-Level Forum at the "3rd Belt and Road International Cooperation Summit Forum" held in Beijing on the 18th, together with the NDRC. At the event, Director Liu Liehong stated in his closing speech, "China will adhere to broad consultation and shared interests and promote the construction of the 'Digital Silk Road' with high standards."

The Data Bureau is also conducting recruitment for its operations. With the public recruitment registration for central and directly affiliated institutions starting on the 15th of this year, five departments under the Data Bureau have newly established 12 positions in areas such as data utilization promotion, data governance, and industry. According to recruitment information, these five departments will be responsible for tasks including research on data governance and development policies, research on data infrastructure and policies, management and promotion of data resources development and utilization, and formulation of development strategies related to the digital economy.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.