China leads world in digital infrastructure development: official

China

China leads world in digital infrastructure development: official

2025-08-14 11:46 Last Updated At：18:47

China is now leading the world in digital infrastructure development, which has seen significant achievements during the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025), said Liu Liehong, director of the National Data Administration (NDA), at a press conference in Beijing on Thursday.

At a press conference held by the State Council Information Office, senior NDA officials briefed the media on China's advancement in the development of the Digital China Initiative during the 14th Five-Year Plan period.

First and foremost, Liu introduced the development situation of digital infrastructure.

"China has achieved significant development in digital infrastructure. The country's digital infrastructure is world-leading in terms of scale and technology. By the end of June 2025, the total number of 5G base stations had increased fivefold compared to 2020, reaching 4.55 million, and the number of gigabit broadband users had increased 34 times to 226 million. China's total computing power ranks second globally," said Liu.

Investment in digital infrastructure has created substantial market demand, driving the development of sectors on both the upstream and downstream of the information and communication technology industry chain, such as integrated circuits, communication network equipment, computers, servers, and terminal products, fostering an advanced and complete industrial system, Liu said.

In terms of stimulating consumption, the proactive development and iterative upgrades of digital infrastructure have driven the vigorous development of new business models and formats such as online shopping, online education, telemedicine, and the 5G+ industrial Internet, he said.

"China has further implemented the "east data, west computing" project, promoting a scientific layout of computing power as a new quality productive force. Among the eight major computing power hubs, five are located in the western region, effectively facilitating coordinated regional development," Liu added.

UNGA President warns global multilateral system "under attack"

The multilateral system is "under attack" amid global turmoil, President of the 80th UN General Assembly Annalena Baerbock warned in her remarks on Wednesday.

In her briefing on the priorities for the resumed 80th Session of the General Assembly, the UNGA president noted that the current multilateral system does not collapse all in a sudden, but "crumbles piece by piece" in divisions, compromises, and lack of political commitment.

The president called all the UN member states to defend the UN Charter and international law and promote cross-regional cooperation.

She also urged to push forward the work of the UNGA on certain critical issues with a strong majority, rather than an absolute consensus among all member states. Such act is not a failure of multilateralism, but "an affirmation of it," she said.

The foundational principles of the institution should not be eroded by appeasement, she said, calling the member states to show courage, leadership, and responsibility at the UN's "critical make-or-break moment."

"The UN needs you. Your support, your leadership, your principle, stand, your cross-regional cooperation, if we are to preserve and modernize this institution, if we are to make it, rather than break it," she said.