World Data Organization gathers over 200 members across more than 40 countries

The World Data Organization (WDO) has brought together more than 200 members from over 40 countries worldwide, as a newly established international platform for cross-border data collaboration.

The World Data Organization is the first professional international organization focused on advancing data development and governance practices. Established on Monday with its headquarters in Beijing, the organization serves as a global, non-governmental, and non-profit platform for dialogue, rule-making, and collaboration.

The diverse membership of the WDO includes enterprises, universities, think tanks, international organizations and financial institutions, spanning 14 industries such as manufacturing, finance, healthcare, e-commerce, transportation, energy and agriculture, with members from over 40 countries. This broad global footprint and diversified membership have enabled the WDO to preliminarily form a collaborative ecosystem with broad coverage and multi-party synergy.

Zhao Houlin, former secretary-general of the International Telecommunication Union, noted its unique value in nurturing global digital talent and facilitating cross-border knowledge sharing.

"This platform can help us train and cultivate leading talent in the field of data communications from all countries. Through this platform, these professionals will gain insights into China's development experience as well as that of other nations, and can better apply what they have learned to the economic construction and technological advancement of their home countries," said Zhao Houlin, former secretary-general of the International Telecommunication Union.

While talent development stands as a core pillar of the WDO's mission, global industry leaders also highlighted the organization's critical role in bridging data division and advancing inclusive digital growth, as cross-border data flows face rising risks of division and barriers.

"Data in the cloud is one thing that can create huge borders, so we must work together. So I think what you're seeing now is China saying we're looking into the problems and the solutions and we're trying to address that," said Jack Perry, chairman of the 48 Group.

Looking ahead, the WDO will focus on two core missions. The first is breaking barriers by harmonizing global data policies to support governments and research institutions, while lowering compliance costs for multinational enterprises. The second is building ecosystems through the deployment of data applications in sectors such as healthcare and education. Through these efforts, the organization aims to strengthen talent development, particularly in the Global South, to effectively bridge the digital divide.

It is expected that by 2030, the World Data Organization will become an internationally influential platform and a trusted hub in the data field.

World Data Organization gathers over 200 members across more than 40 countries

World Data Organization gathers over 200 members across more than 40 countries

World Data Organization gathers over 200 members across more than 40 countries

World Data Organization gathers over 200 members across more than 40 countries

As the diplomatic engagement between the United States and Iran continues despite a faltering ceasefire, a former commander of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has said that Iran is prepared to use military power to break the U.S. maritime blockade should the negotiations collapse or run on too long.

Mohsen Rezaee, who also currently serves as a member of the Iranian Expediency Discernment Council, struck a confident tone about Iran's current trajectory in an exclusive interview with China Global Television Network (CGTN) in Tehran on Wednesday.

He said the country has withstood over two decades of crippling sanctions and continued to move forward.

"We have been under sanctions for more than 20 years. The number of sanctions likely exceeds 2,000, targeting individuals, enterprises, corporations, ships, insurance companies, and even foreign countries that interacted with us. However, we have managed to find solutions to neutralize these sanctions, and we will continue to do so moving forward," he said.

He said Iran aims to ease the sanctions burden through talks with the U.S., although at the same time, he said, Iran is ready to shift to a military response if the path to a peaceful resolution closes.

"Furthermore, we will compel the U.S. to lift these sanctions. We will force the U.S. to end the maritime blockade -- either through negotiations or, should they resist, through direct action and we will attack U.S. warships. Therefore, despite all the pressures, the future of our economy is bright and promising, while the future of the US economy is bleak," he said.

While any new war against Iran would be a dead end, the best way out for the U.S. is to continue talks, according to the senior official.

"We have prepared ourselves so that if the maritime blockade continues beyond a certain timeframe, we will launch an attack and break the blockade. The Americans have no choice but to negotiate. Continuing this war is a journey into a very dark tunnel for the United States. The more America chooses to fight, the deeper it enters a tunnel with no end. Yet for us, the path is perfectly clear. America is moving toward us in the dark, while we are monitoring their every move," he said.

Former IRGC chief says Iran ready to break U.S. naval blockade by force if talks fail