Boosting computing power has become a major focal point of China's strategic initiatives, serving as a critical engine for economic transformation and is rapidly reshaping industries and fueling innovation.
A computing power revolution is reshaping China during the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025). The country has built a nationwide computing network, with its total scale now ranked second in the world.
The key strategy is "East Data, West Computing," a megaproject that aims to coordinate the computing capabilities of the country's eastern regions with inland western regions.
Supported by powerful computing capacity, artificial intelligence is comprehensively empowering traditional manufacturing industry in central China’s Hunan Province.
"We have developed dozens of humanoid robots for industrial scenario demands. Pilot operations are being conducted in four areas: machining, logistics, assembly and quality inspection. By connecting robots to the embodied toolchain platform, we continuously collect data for model optimization," said Tong Xing, head of Algorithm Research Institute at Robotics R and D Center under Zhongke Yungu Technology.
The transformative impact of the shift on local economies is evident in Qingyang, northwest China's Gansu Province, a pivotal hub for the project.
Dong Zongmou, deputy director of administrative commission at east-data-west-computing project industrial park reported that there are 257 enterprises registered and operating in the park.
"It's not just about investment promotion and building computing power; more crucially, we are building an ecological industrial chain. This means that while constructing, we are also planning to attract downstream customers through investment promotion, so everything resonates at the same frequency," he further explained.
Meanwhile, Guizhou Province is fortifying its computing infrastructure to serve as the foundation for expanding, strengthening and upgrading its digital economy.
"We are actively building a national agglomeration zone for the digital economy, rooted in computing power and data, to promote the digital transformation of governance, life and industry, and to develop Guizhou's digital economy with high quality," said Jiang Yang, deputy director of Big Data Development Administration of Guizhou Province.
China upgrades computing power as new economic catalyst
