Ensuring the healthy and sustainable development of Digital China requires continuous improvement of the environment for digitalized development and the creation of an equitable and orderly digital governance ecosystem.
要保障数字中国健康可持续发展。需要不断优化数字化发展环境，打造公平规范的数字治理生态。
“Digital China Construction Series (Lesson 11 of 13): Build an Equitable and Orderly Digital Governance Ecosystem,” Beijing Party Member Education Network， April 11, 2025
On April 11, 2025, the Beijing Party Member Education Network released a remarkable 13-lesson educational series on China’s national digital strategy, Digital China. Designed as a foundational introduction, the course targets Party cadre and members and is intended to raise awareness, elevate political understanding, and standardize implementation.
Lesson Eleven highlights that the Digital China strategy requires a new digital governance ecosystem to carry out national digitalized development. The lesson also makes its central point unmistakably clear: Party leadership is essential to further enhance governance capacity in the digital domain, as seen in the principle of Party Control of the Internet.
On February 27, 2023, the Central Government specified that the Digital China strategy would be formally implemented and synchronized across both the domestic and international environments, labeling these two environments the “Digital Governance Ecosystem” and “International Cooperation in the Digital Domain.”
Digital Governance Ecosystem
The digital governance ecosystem is a “new structure and new content for national governance in the digital era” that better supports “the healthy and sustainable development of Digital China.” It consists of the following features: an improved legal and regulatory system, a new technology standards system, enhanced governance capacity, and purified cyberspace.
Legal and Regulatory System
An improved legal and regulatory system must address any blind spots and gaps in the nation’s existing laws and regulations for the digital domain. This will ensure a healthy and orderly development environment for digital governance.
Technology Standards System
A new technology standards system reinforces the foundational and guiding role of standardization in the construction of Digital China. The system must create and revise application standards for digitalized transformation in various industries as well as cross-industry fused development.
Comprehensive Cyber Governance System
Improved governance capacity is embodied in the Comprehensive Cyber Governance System, an enhancement of the Comprehensive Internet Governance System. Party leadership is essential to further enhance governance capacity in the digital domain, as seen in the principle of Party Control of the Internet.
A cyberspace ecosystem that is clear, bright, and sound is the shared aspiration of the vast number of Internet users, the central objective of efforts to Control and Govern the Internet, and fosters a civilized and harmonious environment for the development of Digital China.
A Series Roadmap
If you are new to Digital China, you may want to begin with my overview of the strategy and a shortlist of key concepts that cadre are expected to master. Both will help you navigate the lessons.
Let’s continue the series with Lesson Eleven:
Each lesson’s web address is linked to its original Chinese-language title. Note: Some of these links may have security certificate issues. For your safety, I’ve also embedded a clean, archived copy of each video in the corresponding post. You can choose which version to view, but I recommend using the archived copy for a safer experience.
“Digital China Construction Series 11: Build an Equitable and Orderly Digital Governance Ecosystem” (数字中国建设系列之十一：建设公平规范的数字治理生态), Beijing Party Member Education Network (北京党员教育网)， April 11, 2025
Archived Video
Speaker: Beijing Guoheng Zhilin Cultural Communication Co., Ltd. (北京国恒智林文化传播有限公司)
Length: 11:03
Synopsis: : While advances in digital technology have brought comprehensive economic and social development, they have also brought new issues and challenges in development and oversight. To ensure the healthy and sustainable development of Digital China, it is necessary to continuously optimize the environment for digitalized development by improving the legal and regulatory system, building a technology standards system, enhancing governance capacity, and purifying cyberspace, thereby creating an equitable and orderly digital governance ecosystem.
简介：数字技术的进步带来经济社会全方位发展的同时，也带来了发展和监管上的许多新问题新挑战。要保障数字中国健康可持续发展，需要不断优化数字化发展环境，从完善法律法规体系、构建技术标准体系、提升治理水平、净化网络空间等入手，打造公平规范的数字治理生态。
Terminology shortlist with footnoted definitions: environment for digitalized development1 (数字化发展环境), legal and regulatory system2 (法律法规体系), technology standards system3 (技术标准体), governance capacity4 (治理水平), purifying cyberspace5 (净化网络空间), digital governance ecosystem6 (数字治理生态).
Video Transcript and Translation
Terminology shortlist and other key terms are highlighted in blue.
00:23
The advancement of digital technologies has led to a rapid surge in social productive forces, significant optimization of resource allocation, and comprehensive development across political, social, cultural, and ecological dimensions. At the same time, it has also introduced numerous new challenges in both development and oversight.
数字技术的进步带来了社会生产力的飞速提升，资源配置的极大优化，以及政治、社会、文化、生态的全方位发展。也带来了发展和监管上的许多新问题新挑战。
00:37
For example, a system for laws and regulations and a system for standardized norms in the digital domain remain incomplete. Multi-stakeholder collaborative governance mechanisms are still underdeveloped, and the precision and depth of digital governance needs further strengthening. Ensuring the healthy and sustainable development of Digital China requires continuous improvement of the environment for digitalized development and the creation of an equitable and orderly digital governance ecosystem.
如数字领域法律法规和标准规范体系尚未完善。多主体协同治理机制还不完备，数字治理的精度和深度需进一步加强等等。要保障数字中国健康可持续发展。需要不断优化数字化发展环境，打造公平规范的数字治理生态。
01:04
As a new structure and new content for national governance in the digital era, the digital governance ecosystem is guided by the principles of promoting development and regulatory standardization. It constitutes a rules-based system composed of laws and regulations, policy measures, institutional rules, and standardized norms. Within an equitable and orderly digital governance ecosystem, effective digital governance can unlock the potential in digital productive forces, mitigate digital risks, and better support the healthy and sustainable development of Digital China.
数字治理生态作为数字时代国家治理的新结构、新内容，是以促进发展和监管规范为准则，由一系列法律法规、政策规定、制度规则、标准规范等组成的规则体系。在公平规范的数字治理生态之下，通过有效的数字治理，能够释放数字生产力潜能，防范数字化风险，更好的支撑数字中国的健康可持续发展。
01:38
At present, the construction of Digital China is entering a new stage that emphasizes both development and standards. It is essential to build an equitable and orderly digital governance ecosystem. This requires both cultivating fertile ground for innovation and firmly promoting development, while also establishing an orderly environment and upholding regulatory standards. Key efforts include improving the legal and regulatory system, establishing a technology standards system, enhancing governance capacity, and purifying cyberspace. This will advance a more coordinated, efficient, standardized, and orderly digitalized governance system, and foster a governance environment suited to digitalized development.
当前，数字中国建设正迈向发展与规范并重的阶段，要建设公平规范的数字治理生态。既要厚植创新土壤，坚持促进发展，又要构建有序环境，坚持监管规范，注重从完善法律法规体系构建技术标准体系、提升治理水平、净化网络空间等几方面入手，推动数字化治理体系更加协同高效、规范有序、营造适应数字化发展的治理环境。
02:15
Improve the legal and regulatory system. The rapid development of digital technologies continues to expose blind spots and gaps in our country’s existing laws and regulations for the digital domain, making it necessary to improve the legal and regulatory system.
完善法律法规体系。数字技术的飞速发展不断触及我国数字领域现有法律法规的盲区和空白，要完善法律法规体系。
02:32
Strengthen legislative coordination and planning by researching and drafting a legislative plan for the digital domain and promptly amending legal systems that are no longer suited to digitalized development. Between 2016 and 2021, the Cybersecurity Law of the People’s Republic of China, the Data Security Law of the People’s Republic of China, and the Personal Information Protection Law of the People’s Republic of China were successively enacted and implemented.
加强立法统筹协调，研究制定数字领域立法规划，及时按程序调整不适应数字化发展的法律制度。2016-2021年，” 中华人民共和国网络安全法、” “中华人民共和国数据安全法” 和 “中华人民共和国个人信息保护法” 先后制定施行。
02:56
These foundational, comprehensive, and overarching laws have provided strong institutional support for the construction of Digital China. In response to unhealthy and irregular practices that have emerged amid the rapid development of informatization, our country has successively enacted the E-Commerce Law of the People’s Republic of China and the Anti-Unfair Competition Law of the People’s Republic of China, issued Regulations on Optimizing the Business Environment, and released the Guiding Opinions on Promoting the Regulated and Healthy Development of the Platform Economy.
这些基础性、综合性、全局性法律，为数字中国建设提供了坚实的制度保障。针对信息化快速发展过程中出现的不健康、不规范的问题，我国又相继制定出台了”中华人民共和国电子商务法。” “中华人民共和国反不正当竞争法、” 优化营商环境条例” 发布 “关于促进平台经济规范健康发展的指导意见。”
03:27
Documents such as the Guiding Opinions on Strengthening the Comprehensive Governance of Internet Information Service Algorithms and the Opinions on Strengthening the Protection of Intellectual Property have been issued to enhance regulatory guidance over e-commerce, the platform economy, online algorithms, and intellectual property protection. In response to issues of platform monopolies, the Anti-Monopoly Law of the People’s Republic of China was revised and has entered into force.
“关于加强互联网信息服务算法综合治理的指导意见，” “关于强化知识产权保护的意见”等，以加强对电子商务、平台经济、网络算法、知识产权保护的规范引导。面对平台垄断问题，”中华人民共和国反垄断法” 完成修订并开始实施。
03:51
In response to the continued emergence of personal privacy infringement incidents, the Law of the People’s Republic of China on Countering Telecommunications and Network Fraud was reviewed and adopted. In addition, new regulations were introduced, including the Provisions on the Management of Internet User Account Information, the Provisions on the Administration of Internet Pop-up Information Push Services, and the Provisions on the Administration of Deep Synthesis in Internet Information Services, all aimed at improving the management framework for Internet information services. Rule of law is the fundamental approach to Internet governance. The continuous improvement of the legal and regulatory system and the advancement of digital rule of law construction help foster a healthy and orderly development environment for digital governance.
面对侵害个人隐私事件不断出现， “中华人民共和国反电信网络诈骗法” 审议通过，以及 “互联网用户账号信息管理规定、” 互联网弹窗信息推送服务管理规定” “互联网信息服务深度合成管理规定” 等新规出台，推动互联网信息服务管理制度持续完善。法治是互联网治理的基本方式，不断完善的法律法规体系和数字法治建设，有利于为数字治理营造健康规范的发展环境。
04:32
Establish a technology standards system. The development of the digital environment requires a robust technology system for support. Building a technology standards system, along with compiling guidelines for digitalized standardization work, and accelerating the formulation and revision of application standards for digitalized transformation in various industries as well as cross-industry fused development, can provide sound and scientific standardization support for building Digital China. This not only helps protect intellectual property rights in the Internet domain but also helps prevent resource waste caused by technology barriers.
构建技术标准体系。数字环境建设需要完善的技术体系护航，而构建技术标准体系，编制数字化标准工作指南，加快制定修订各行业数字化转型、产业交叉融合发展等应用标准。可以为建设数字中国提供科学健全的规范支持，既有利于保护互联网领域知识产权，也有利避免技术壁垒造成的资源浪费。
05:05
In recent years, our country has intensified efforts to develop and revise information security standards, taking the lead in initiating and publishing a number of international standards in the digital domain such as autonomous driving, big data, Industrial Internet, and Smart Cities. As a result, the foundational and guiding role of standardization in the construction of Digital China has gradually become more evident. However, rapid technological iteration and the continuous emergence of new applications have also caused many standards to become quickly outdated, leading to a situation where gaps in demand coexist with relative oversupply.
我国近年来加大了信息安全标准制修订力度，在自动驾驶、大数据、工业互联网、智慧城市等方面牵头推动一批数字领域国际标准立项发布。使得标准化在数字中国建设中的基础性、引领性作用逐步显现。但技术的迭代及新应用的不断涌现，也使许多标准很快过时，造成需求缺口与相对过剩并存的状态。
05:39
To address this issue, it is essential to keep pace with the latest developments in digital technology, establish and improve a standardized and coordinated work mechanism, and promote the formation of a unified, coordinated, well-aligned, and technology standards system. Key technology standards must be developed, with standardization research carried out in fields such as artificial intelligence and quantum information, and simultaneous advancement of technology R&D, standards research and formulation, and industrial popularization in areas such as big data and blockchain.
解决这一问题，就要紧跟数字技术最新发展趋势，建立健全标准化协同工作机制，推动形成统一协调、衔接配套、务实有效的技术标准体系。要制定关键技术标准，在人工智能、量子信息等领域开展标准化研究，在大数据、区块链等领域同步部署技术研发、标准研制与产业推广。
06:07
At the same time, efforts should be made to advance standardization in areas such as Information Infrastructure, the platform economy, Digital Government, and Digital Society, using standards to empower the transformation and upgrading of traditional industries. It is also necessary to improve standards for cybersecurity and data security, enhance risk management capabilities in the technology domain, actively participate in the formulation of international standards in the digital domain, and contribute China’s technology solutions.
同时推动信息基础设施、平台经济、数字政府、数字社会等领域标准化建设，以标准赋能传统产业转型升级。健全网络和数据安全标准，提升技术领域安全风险管理水平，主动参与数字领域国际标准制定，积极贡献中国技术方案。
06:33
Enhance governance capacity. Cyber governance7 represents new content and a new domain for national governance in the information age. Building Digital China requires improving governance capacity and refining a Comprehensive Cyber Governance System. This includes enhancing comprehensive and multidimensional governance capabilities and building a scientific, efficient, and orderly pattern of Internet control and governance. A Comprehensive Cyber Governance System encompasses leadership and management, the dissemination of positive content, content management and control, social coordination, cyber rule of law, and the use of technology for cyber governance.
提升治理水平。网络治理是信息时代国家治理的新内容、新领域。建设数字中国需要提升治理水平，健全网络综合治理体系。提升全方位、多维度综合治理能力，构建科学、高效、有序的管网治网格局。网络综合治理体系涵盖领导管理、正能量传播、内容管控、社会协同、网络法治、技术治网等方面。
07:09
Improving the Comprehensive Cyber Governance System, and leveraging information technologies such as cloud computing, big data, and artificial intelligence, to enhance the quality and efficiency of social governance is a ‘bull’s nose project’ for advancing the modernization of the Internet Governance System and governance capacity. The 19th Party Congress proposed to ‘establish a Comprehensive Cyber Governance System and foster a clear and bright cyberspace.
健全网络综合治理体系，运用云计算、大数据、人工智能等信息技术，助推社会治理提质增效，是推动互联网治理体系和治理能力现代化的牛鼻子工程。党的十九大提出 “建立网络综合治理体系，营造清朗的网络空间。”
07:33
The Fourth Plenary Session of the 19th Central Committee called for “establishing and improving a Comprehensive Cyber Governance System and comprehensively enhancing governance capacity in cyberspace. The 20th Party Congress further emphasized the need to “improve the Comprehensive Cyber Governance System and promote the development of a healthy online ecosystem.” This is both a political requirement for implementing the Principle of Party Control of the Internet and a fundamental solution to foster a clear and bright cyberspace environment.
党的十九届四中全会要求 “建立健全网络综合治理体系，” 全面提高网络治理能力。党的二十大强调， “健全网络综合治理体系，推动形成良好网络生态。” 这既是落实党管互联网原则的政治要求，也是营造清朗网络空间的治本之策。
07:59
The current landscape of comprehensive cyber governance remains challenging, with numerous risks and challenges in areas such as online public opinion, cybersecurity, and data security. There are still significant shortcomings in our cyberspace governance capabilities, and it is essential to give full play to the leading role of the Comprehensive Cyber Governance System for Internet control and governance. To foster a healthy online ecosystem, regulatory (supervisory) approaches must be optimized by implementing regularized oversight, strengthening preventive regulation, and enhancing the precision and scientific rigor of both in-process and post-event supervision.
当前网络综合治理形势依然严峻，网络舆论、网络安全、数据安全等领域直面诸多风险和挑战。我们的网络治理能力也存在不少短板，要发挥网络综合治理体系建设在管网治网中的牵头作用。推动形成良好的网络生态，要优化监管方式，落实常态化监管，完善预防性监管，提高事中事后监管的精准化、科学化水平。
08:35
To enhance the overall effectiveness of regulation, it is necessary to improve mechanisms for collaborative governance and establish a digital governance model characterized by multi-stakeholder participation, including government, enterprises, industry organizations, and the public, featuring collaborative governance and win-win outcomes.
提升综合监管效能，要健全协同治理机制，建立完善政府、企业、行业组织和社会公众等多元参与、协同高效、共治共赢的数字治理模式。
08:53
Purifying Cyberspace. General Secretary Xi Jinping has emphasized that cyberspace is the shared spiritual home of hundreds of millions of people. A clear and bright cyberspace with a sound ecosystem aligns with the people’s interests. In contrast, a polluted and disorderly cyberspace with a deteriorating ecosystem runs counter to those interests.
净化网络空间。习近平总书记指出，网络空间是亿万民众共同的精神家园。网络空间天朗气清，生态良好，符合人民利益。网络空间乌烟瘴气，生态恶化，不符合人民利益。
09:15
A cyberspace ecosystem that is clear, bright, and sound is the shared aspiration of the vast number of internet users, and the central objective of efforts to control and govern the Internet. To achieve this goal, the current priority is to purify cyberspace by deepening governance work for the cyber ecosystem and pushing forward with targeted initiatives such as the “Clear and Bright” and “Purify the Internet” campaigns.
天朗气清、生态良好的网络空间，是广大互联网用户的共同期盼，也是管网治网的工作目标。要实现这一目标，当下要做的就是净化网络空间，深入开展网络生态治理工作，推进 “清朗” “净网” 系列专项行动。
09:35
Innovatively advance the construction of cyber civilization. In recent years, our country has continued to carry out the “Clear and Bright” and “Purify the Internet” campaigns, aiming to rectify various forms of cyber misconduct and respond to public concerns. These efforts have led to a marked improvement in the cyber ecosystem. According to official data, in 2022 the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) organized a total of 13 “Clear and Bright” special campaigns.
创新推进网络文明建设。近年来，我国持续开展 “清朗” “净网” 系列专项行动。整治各种网络乱象，回应人民群众关心关切，网络生态明显优化。数据显示，2022年，国家网信办共组织开展13项 “清朗” 专项行动。
09:57
Over 54.3 million pieces of illegal and harmful information were removed, and more than 6.8 million user accounts were dealt with. In addition, over 2,890 apps and mini programs were taken down. Authorities also dissolved or shut down 260,000 online groups and forums, closed more than 7,300 websites, and launched a strong crackdown on prominent issues that drew widespread public concerns such as paid internet trolls (shuijun) and toxic online behavior.
清理违法和不良信息5,430余万条，处置账号680余万个，下架 APP 小程序2,890余款。解散关闭群组、贴吧等26万个，关闭网站7,300多家，对网络水军、网络戾气等群众反映强烈的突出问题重拳出击。
10:20
These efforts have effectively safeguarded the lawful rights and interests of netizens especially minors. In addition, there is a need to innovatively advance the construction of cyber civilization, strengthen propaganda and education on core socialist values in cyberspace, and extend mass campaigns for spiritual civilization online.
有力维护了网民特别是未成年人合法权益。此外，还要创新推进网络文明建设，加强社会主义核心价值观网上宣传教育，推进群众性精神文明创建活动向网上延伸。
10:39
A positive, healthy, and uplifting cyber culture should be cultivated to inspire individuals and nourish society. This requires fully mobilizing the enthusiasm and initiative of all stakeholders involved in running, using, and controlling the Internet, thereby fostering a civilized and harmonious environment for the development of Digital China.
用积极健康向上向善的网络文化浸润人心、滋养社会，充分调动 “办网、” “用网、” “管网” 等各方力量的积极性、主动性。为建设数字中国营造文明和谐的发展环境。
Footnotes
- environment for (national) digitalized development (数字化发展环境). The environment for digitalized development is optimized when the “enthusiasm and initiative of all stakeholders involved in running, using, and controlling the Internet are fully mobilized.” See, “Inside Digital China (11/13): Digital Governance Ecosystem.” ↩︎
- legal and regulatory system (法律法规体系). An improved legal and regulatory system must address any blind spots and gaps in the nation’s existing laws and regulations for the digital domain. This will ensure a healthy and orderly development environment for digital governance. See, “Inside Digital China (11/13): Digital Governance Ecosystem.” ↩︎
- technology standards system (技术标准体). A new technology standards system reinforces the foundational and guiding role of standardization in the construction of Digital China. The system must create and revise application standards for digitalized transformation in various industries as well as cross-industry fused development. See, “Inside Digital China (11/13): Digital Governance Ecosystem.” ↩︎
- governance capacity (治理水平). Improved governance capacity is embodied in the Comprehensive Cyber Governance System, an enhancement of the Comprehensive Internet Governance System. Party leadership is essential to further enhance governance capacity in the digital domain, as seen in the principle of Party Control of the Internet. See, “Inside Digital China (11/13): Digital Governance Ecosystem.” ↩︎
- purifying cyberspace (净化网络空间). A cyberspace ecosystem that is clear, bright, and sound is the shared aspiration of the vast number of Internet users, the central objective of efforts to Control and Govern the Internet, and fosters a civilized and harmonious environment for the development of Digital China. See “Inside Digital China (11/13): Digital Governance Ecosystem.” ↩︎
- digital governance ecosystem (数字治理生态). The digital governance ecosystem is a “new structure and new content for national governance in the digital era” that better supports “the healthy and sustainable development of Digital China.” It consists of the following features: an improved legal and regulatory system, a new technology standards system, enhanced governance capacity, and purified cyberspace. See “Inside Digital China (11/13): Digital Governance Ecosystem.” ↩︎
- 网络治理 can be translated as Internet governance, network governance, and cyber governance based on context and whim. I translate it as “cyber governance” here to ensure contextual consistency with the most common translation (outside China) of “网络综合治理体系,” Comprehensive Cyber Governance System. ↩︎