China's internet penetration rate surpassed 80 percent as of December 2025, with the total number of internet users reaching 1.125 billion, according to the latest Statistical Report on China's Internet Development released on Thursday.
The report highlights the steady growth of China's digital economy, with the added value of core industries now accounting for 10.5 percent of the country's GDP. This growth comes as the digital transformation of various industries continues to accelerate across the nation.
During China's 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021–2025), the country has prioritized innovation-driven development by building on new infrastructure, harnessing emerging technologies, and engaging a diverse range of market participants, ultimately creating a more cohesive and integrated approach to growth.
Progress in new digital infrastructure continued to strengthen the foundation for digital transformation. In mobile networks, China has built more than 4.8 million 5G base stations, with 5G coverage extending to all townships and 95 percent of administrative villages nationwide. 5G-advanced networks have been deployed in more than 330 cities.
In fixed networks, two-thirds of cities nationwide have met the standards for "gigabit cities". In terms of computing power infrastructure, 42 intelligent computing clusters with over 10,000 GPUs each have been completed, achieving a scale that places the country among the world's leaders in computing infrastructure and provides strong support for the rapid development of its artificial intelligence industry.
"With the internet penetration rate exceeding 80 percent, rural populations and the elderly are integrating into the digital society at an accelerated pace, significantly enhancing digital inclusivity," said Wang Changqing, deputy director of the Policy and International Cooperation Institute at the China Internet Network Information Center (CNNIC).
"Digital technology is deeply merging with the real economy and public services, driving digital reforms in fields such as government affairs, healthcare, and education. The national online platform for government services now serves 940 million users, making the efficient completion of administrative tasks a new norm. This reflects the value-oriented goal of internet development: serving the people with warmth and efficiency," Wang added.
The report also shows that by December 2025, generative AI users totaled 602 million, up 141.7 percent from the end of 2024, with a penetration rate of 42.8 percent, a year-on-year increase of 25.2 percentage points. It indicates that generative AI is rapidly integrating into everyday life and production, becoming a key driver of China's digital and intelligent transformation.
China's internet penetration rate exceeds 80 pct: report
China's internet penetration rate exceeds 80 pct: report
At least 21 more Palestinians, including children and a paramedic, were killed in Israeli attacks across the Gaza Strip on Wednesday, said the Palestinian Civil Defense in Gaza.
Mahmoud Basal, spokesman for the Civil Defense, said that the Israeli army had been carrying out artillery and airstrikes on Gaza City and Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip since dawn, targeting tents sheltering displaced people and residential buildings.
In the latest attack, an Israeli drone struck a tent housing displaced people in the al-Mawasi area west of Khan Younis, killing three, including two women and a paramedic, according to Basal.
"All the children were terrified and screaming because of the sound of the bombardment. My children ran toward me because of the explosions. I tried to calm them down, but smoke was everywhere around us," said Fatima Al-Astal, a displaced Palestinian woman living near the attacked tent.
"Paramedic Hussein was among the first ambulance crews to arrive at the scene. He managed to retrieve two bodies. Due to the large number of casualties, he was forced to return again to rescue the injured. At that moment, the area was targeted once more, which led to his killing," said Yassin Mutair, director of the Khan Younis Ambulance Center.
Basal added that 14 people, including three children and five women, were killed and several others were wounded in artillery shelling on the outskirts of the Zeitoun and Tuffah neighborhoods east of Gaza City. Some of the wounded were taken to Al-Shifa Medical Complex.
Earlier, four people, including a child, were killed in Israeli artillery shelling that targeted tents sheltering displaced people in the Qizan Rashwan area south of Khan Younis. The victims were taken to Nasser Medical Complex in the city.
Also on Wednesday, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said in a statement that militants opened fire on its troops during routine operations near the northern Gaza border, severely injuring an Israeli reserve officer.
"Upon identifying the fire, IDF armored units and IAF aircraft conducted precise strikes in the area. The IDF views this attack as a blatant violation of the current ceasefire agreement," it said.
In response, Hamas dismissed the Israeli claim as a "flimsy pretext" to justify continued killings in the Gaza Strip.
Israeli escalation was "an attempt to impose a permanent reality of abuse and terrorism in Gaza," in flagrant disregard for the terms of the ceasefire agreement and existing understandings, Hamas said, calling for immediate international pressure to stop Israel's violations.
Since a ceasefire between Hamas and Israel came into effect on Oct. 10, 2025, Israel has killed 556 Palestinians and wounded 1,500 others, according to Gaza-based health authorities on Wednesday.
At least 21 more Palestinians killed in Israeli attacks across Gaza Strip: civil defense
At least 21 more Palestinians killed in Israeli attacks across Gaza Strip: civil defense
