…we will continue to improve the governance system for technology regulations, strengthen research capacity in technology ethics, and further leverage digital technologies to enhance the ability of decision-making departments to perceive, monitor, and anticipate (i.e. provide early warning on) developments in the economy and society.
“Digital China Construction Series (Lesson 5 of 13): Develop Efficient and Collaborative Digital Government Affairs,” 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 Five focuses on Digital China‘s role in realizing a modernized National Governance System. The lesson also makes its central point unmistakably clear: digitalized early warning of economic and social events will help safeguard Party rule by ensuring efficient and effective governance.
Modernized national governance
Modernized national governance requires elevating the digitalized and intelligentized functioning of government. This includes strategically leveraging digital tools to strengthen the ability of decision-makers to perceive, monitor, and anticipate developments in the economy and society. Once complete, digitalized early warning of economic and social events will help safeguard Party rule by ensuring efficient and effective governance.
Digital governance is a systemic project
The development of digital governance in China is a systemic undertaking, requiring top-down architectural design and bottom-up implementation. It is not merely a technical challenge but a governance reform that involves breaking down data silos, reengineering administrative processes, and overhauling institutional structures. A series of national policies issued since 2016, including building frameworks for data sharing, “Internet Plus government services,” and integrated big data systems, have laid the foundation for a unified, collaborative Digital Government at the macro level.
Data sharing and data silos
One of the most critical and most difficult aspects of this transformation is data sharing. Government departments have long operated in silos, and enabling secure, reliable data flows remains a major challenge. To overcome this, China is accelerating the development of a National Unified Government Affairs Big Data System. This will support decision-making and facilitate efficient, collaborative governance by integrating data from central ministries, provincial governments, and institutions like the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps.
Ultimately, Xi Jinping says Digital Government aims to serve the people. Its success is measured by improvements in the public’s access to services, convenience, and overall experience. As part of this evolution, China is expanding “one-stop” and “cross-province” service capabilities, increasing enterprise and public participation, and promoting micro-innovations that solve real-world problems.
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 Five:
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 5/13: Develop Efficient and Collaborative Digital Government Affairs” (数字中国建设系列之五 发展高效协同的数字政务), 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: 8:56
Synopsis: One of the most notable indicators of the positive progress in Digital China construction is the continuous improvement in the level of digitalization in government services. To achieve the goal set out in the 20th National Party Congress report of “basically realizing the modernization of the National Governance System and governance capabilities” by 2035, it is essential to promote the construction of efficient and collaborative Digital Government Affairs.
简介：数字中国建设取得积极成效的鲜明标识之一，就是我国政务服务数字化水平的不断提升。 而要完成二十大报告提出的2035年“基本实现国家治理体系和治理能力现代化”目标，必须推动高效协同的数字政务建设。
Terminology shortlist with footnoted definitions: National Governance System1 (国家治理体系), Digital Government Affairs2 (数字政务).
Video Transcript and Translation
Terminology shortlist and other key terms are highlighted in blue.
00:25
The 2022 United Nations E-Government Survey Report (Chinese version) shows that among the 193 UN member states, China’s e-government ranking has risen from 78th in 2012 to 43rd in 2022, making it one of the countries with the greatest improvement globally. Our online service index has jumped from 62nd to 15th, firmly placing it in the world’s top tier.
2022联合国电子政务调查报告(中文版)显示，在193个联合国会员国中，中国电子政务排名从2012年的78位上升到2022年的43位，是全球增幅最高的国家之一。在线服务指数更是从62位跃升至15位，稳居世界第一梯队。
00:50
The level of digitalization in government services continues to improve, becoming a clear indicator of the tangible progress made in Digital China construction. Services such as “online processing,” “mobile processing,” and “one-time processing” are increasingly common. Individual businesses can now be intelligently registered and approved in seconds, the entire process of registering or deregistering an enterprise across provinces can be completed in the cloud, and procedures like newborn registration and social security enrollment can now be completed in a single step. By the end of 2022, the National Unified Government Services Platform had over 1 billion users, with total usage exceeding 85 billion transactions. More than 90% of government services can be handled online.
政务服务数字化水平不断提升，成为数字中国建设取得积极成效的鲜明标识。”网上办” “掌上办” “一次办” 出现的越来越多。个体工商户注册登记智能”秒批,” 跨省注册或注销企业全流程”云办理”，新生儿出生落户，办社保 一次办结。截至2022年底，全国一体化政务服务平台用户超过10亿人，总使用量超过850亿人次，90%以上的政务服务实现网上可办。
1:26
More than 200 high-demand services, including household registration certificates and social security transfers, can now be handled across provinces. Behind these small but increasingly convenient changes for the public lies a major transformation in the digital and intelligent operation of government. General Secretary Xi Jinping has emphasized the need to fully implement the Cyber Great Power strategy, widely apply digital technologies in government administration and services, and promote the digital and intelligent operation of government to provide strong support for modernizing the National Governance System and governance capacity.
户籍证明、社保转接等200多项高频服务事项，实现跨省通办。群众办事越来越便利的小变化背后，是政府数字化、智能化运行的大变革。习近平总书记指出，要全面贯彻网络强国战略。把数字技术广泛应用于政府管理、服务，推动政府数字化、智能化运行，为推进国家治理体系和治理能力现代化提供有力支撑。
1:59
To achieve the goals set for Digital China construction — namely, “significantly improving the level of digitalized and intelligentized government affairs” by 2025, and “basically realizing the modernization of the National Governance System and governance capacity” by 2035 as proposed in the 20th Party Congress report — it is essential to advance the construction of efficient and collaborative Digital Government Affairs. Digital Government Affairs are an upgraded version of e-government and a further expansion of Digital Government. They are also an important driving force for the coordinated development of the Digital Economy and Digital Society.
而要实现2025年”政务数字化、智能化水平明显提升”的数字中国建设目标，以及二十大报告提出的2035年”基本实现国家治理体系和治理能力现代化”目标，必须推动高效协同的数字政务建设。数字政务是电子政务的升级版和数字政府的再拓展，也是数字经济、数字社会协同发展的重要驱动力量。
2:30
Developing efficient and collaborative Digital Government Affairs means leveraging digital technologies to support the transformation of Party and government functions, institutional innovation, and process optimization. It involves integrating digitalized concepts, thinking, skills, and literacy into the entire work process, breaking down data silos, and coordinating and advancing the digitalized construction of government affairs. To develop efficient and collaborative Digital Government Affairs, we must accelerate innovation in systems and rules, and perfect a system of rules and regulations that are compatible with the construction of Digital Government Affairs.
发展高效协同的数字政务，就是要以数字技术服务党政机构职能转变、制度创新、流程优化，将数字化理念思维和技能素养融入工作全过程，打破数字孤岛，统筹推进政务数字化建设。发展高效协同的数字政务，要加快制度规则创新，完善与数字政务建设相适应的规章制度。
03:01
China has always attached great importance to the construction of Digital Government Affairs. Since 2016, our country has successively issued a series of policy guidance documents with opinions on expanding the scope of “cross-provincial handling” of government affairs services and further improving service efficiency, including Interim Measures for the Administration of Government Affairs Information Resource Sharing, Guiding Opinions on Accelerating the Advancement of “Internet + Government Services” Work, Guiding Opinions on Strengthening the Construction of Digital Government, and Guidelines for the Construction of a National Unified Government Affairs Big Data System. These documents have collectively established the core framework for Digital Government Affairs at the macro level.
我国一向高度重视数字政务建设。2016年以来，国家陆续出台”政务信息资源共享管理暂行办法” ， “关于加快推进’互联网+政务服务’工作的指导意见”，”关于加强数字政府建设的指导意见”，”全国一体化政务大数据体系建设指南”关于扩大政务服务 ”跨省通办” 范围，进一步提升服务效能的意见等一系列政策指导文件，在宏观层面确立了数字政务建设的核心框架。
03:36
A clearly defined pattern for the construction and management Digital Government Affairs that has vertical linkages, horizontal collaboration, and is commonly advanced has gradually taken shape. Digital Government Affairs is not merely the digitalization of government affairs; it is a long-term, systemic project. From top-level architecture to bottom-level construction, it not only requires the government to mobilize various forces to carry out systemic informatized construction, but there are also many digital services with high barriers to entry.
逐渐形成职责明确、纵向联动、横向协同、共同推进的数字政务建设和管理格局。数字政务并非简单的政府事务数字化，而是一项长期的系统性工程。从顶层架构到底层铺设，不仅需要政府调动各种力量进行系统的信息化建设 还有许多高门槛的数字服务。
04:04
Therefore, the development of Digital Government Affairs is not only a technical issue but also a matter of governance. It is essential to accelerate the establishment of an institutional and regulatory system that facilitates efficient collaboration across departments and administrative levels. Technological innovation and institutional innovation must go hand in hand. By improving the digitalized responsibilities and organizational configuration of government departments, a government digitalized performance capability system will be established.
因此，发展数字政务不仅是技术问题，更是治理问题。要加快构建促进跨部门、跨层级高效协作的制度规则体系。要坚持技术创新和制度创新相互促进，通过完善政府部门数字化职责与机构配置，构建政府数字化履职能力体系。
04:28
Key issues include cross-departmental coordination and sharing of government affairs data, government process reengineering and optimization, data governance and security management, performance evaluation and audit supervision. We need to further clarify the boundaries of responsibility and authority, optimize the working mechanism, and provide institutional guarantees for the development of Digital Government Affairs. To develop efficient and coordinated Digital Government Affairs, we need to strengthen digitalized capacity building, promote the interconnection of information system networks, share data on demand, and have efficient professional collaboration.
对政务数据的跨部门协调共享、政务流程再造和优化、数据治理和安全管理、绩效评估和审计监管等关键问题。要进一步厘清责权边界，优化工作机制，为发展数字政务提供制度保障。发展高效协同的数字政务，要强化数字化能力建设，促进信息系统网络互联互通，数据按需共享，业务高效协同。
04:59
Data sharing is the premise for the construction of sound Digital Government Affairs, and it is also the most difficult part to advance at present. This is because as a centralized management organization, there has long been a problem of “information islands” between government departments, and the safe and reliable circulation of data also faces challenges. How do we break down information islands? To improve the efficiency of internal government collaboration, optimize processes, and enhance the people’s experience in handling affairs, it is necessary to accelerate the construction of the National Unified Government Affairs Big Data System.
数据共享是健全数字政务建设的前提，也是当下最难推进的一环。这是因为作为中心化管理机构。各政府部门之间长期存在着”信息孤岛”难题，数据的安全可信流通也面临考验。如何打破信息孤岛？既提升政府内部协同效率，又能优化流程，提升群众办事体验，这就需要加快建设全国一体化政务大数据体系。
05:33
On this basis, a data sharing and exchange system covering the State Council departments, 31 provinces (regions and cities) and the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps will be gradually formed. Efficient sharing, collaborative governance and decision-making support of public data of Party and government organizations will be comprehensively advanced. At the same time, the construction of application systems will be coordinated and deployed to promote interconnection and collaborative linkage, with data concentration and sharing serving as the way.
在此基础上，逐步形成覆盖国务院部门，31个省、(区、市) 和新疆生产建设兵团的数据共享交换体系。全面推进党政机关公共数据的高效共享、协同治理和决策支撑。与此同时，统筹部署应用系统建设，推动互联互通和协同联动，以数据集中和共享为途径。
06:01
We should promote technology fusion, business fusion, and data fusion, and improve the collaborative management and service level across levels, regions, systems, departments, and businesses. We should break through information barriers and eliminate departmental barriers, thereby improving governance efficiency and reducing transaction costs. In addition, we should strengthen cadre training, solve the problem of “how to do Digital Government and how to do it well,” and effectively improve the digitalized capabilities of leading cadre and public servants at all levels.
推进技术融合、业务融合、数据融合，提升跨层级、跨地域、跨系统、跨部门、跨业务的协同管理和服务水平。打通信息壁垒，消除部门阻隔，从而提升治理效率，降低交易成本。此外，还要加强干部培训，解决好数字政府 ”应该怎么干、怎样能干好” 等问题，切实提高各级领导干部和公务人员的数字化能力。
6:31
Continuously enhance the digital thinking, digital knowledge, and digital skills of cadre. To develop efficient and coordinated Digital Government Affairs, we must improve the level of digitalized services, accelerate the promotion of “one job at a time,” and promote the fusion of online and offline. Strengthen and standardize the management of mobile Internet applications and programs for government affairs. Digital Government Affairs continue to break the boundaries of traditional governance, focusing on optimizing the business environment and providing digitalized application scenarios for government affairs, and promoting the optimization of government governance processes and models in the fields such as urban operation, grassroots governance, public services, emergency management, market supervision, and environmental protection.
不断增强干部的数字思维、数字认知、数字技能。发展高效协同的数字政务，要提升数字化服务水平，加快推进 “一件事一次办,” 推进线上线下融合。加强和规范政务移动互联网应用程序管理。数字政务不断打破传统治理边界，以优化营商环境和提供政务数字化应用场景为着力点，在城市运行、基层治理、公共服务、应急管理、市场监管环境保护等领域，推动政府治理流程和模式的优化。
07:15
The service objects of Digital Government Affairs are the people. We should take satisfying the people’s yearning for a better life as the starting point and the end point, and build a digitalized services system that is ubiquitous and accessible, smart and convenient, and fair and inclusive. In recent years, the level of digitalized services in our country has been continuously improving. In Shanghai, one-stop service has been accelerated and iterated, promoting the continuous optimization of the business environment.
数字政务的服务对象是人民，要把满足人民群众对美好生活的向往作为出发点和落脚点，打造泛在可及、智慧便捷、公平普惠的数字化服务体系。近年来，我国的数字化服务水平不断提升。在上海，一网通办” 加速迭代，推动营商环境持续优化。
07:41
By the end of 2022, the number of enterprises per thousand people increased to 111.1, ranking first in the country. Chongqing Yubei District has integrated agricultural and rural data resources. It has built a digital rural intelligent hub system and a big data resource sharing platform, realizing “one screen to perceive the whole area, one map to grasp the whole city.” Rural governance is realizing intelligentization and precision.
截至2022年底，每千人企业数量增至111.1户，位居全国前列。重庆市渝北区则通过整合农业农村数据资源。建成了数字乡村智能中枢系统和大数据资源共享平台，实现了”一屏感知全域，一图掌握全城。“ 乡村治理实现智能化、精准化。
08:08
On the basis of advancing the optimization and upgrading of digitalized services, we must also open up business chains and data sharing points, expand the scope of government services that can be handled through “one-stop service” and “cross-province service”. We must adhere to the fusion of online and offline services, expand service channels, increase public and enterprise participation, and effectively solve the “big problems” and “multiple problems” of enterprises through “micro-innovation” and “small improvements”.
在推动数字化服务优化升级的基础上，还要打通业务链条和数据共享读点，扩大 ”一网通办” “跨省通办” 政务服务事项范围。坚持线上线下融合，拓展服务渠道，扩大公众和企业参与，通过 “微创新” “小改进” 切实解决企业的 “大问题” “多难题”。
08:32
Unlock a smarter and happier life for the people. At the same time, we will continue to improve the governance system for technology regulations, strengthen research capacity in technology ethics, and further leverage digital technologies to enhance the ability of decision-making departments to perceive, monitor, and anticipate (i.e. provide early warning on) developments in the economy and society.
为群众解锁更加智能的幸福生活。同时不断健全技术规则治理体系，加强技术伦理研究储备，进一步利用数字技术提高决策部门对于经济社会的感知、监测与预警能力。
Footnotes
- National Governance System (国家治理体系). “The National Governance System is a system of institutions for managing the country under CCP leadership. These include economic, political, cultural, social, ecological, and Party development mechanisms and institutions, as well as laws, regulations and plans. These are a complete set of tightly linked and coordinated national institutions,” see “Modernizing the National Governance System and Capacity,” China.org.cn, November 11, 2022. ↩︎
- Digital Government Affairs (数字政务). “To achieve the goal set out in the 20th National Party Congress report of “basically realizing the modernization of the National Governance System and governance capabilities” by 2035, it is essential to promote the construction of efficient and collaborative digital government affairs … Digital government affairs is not only a technical issue but also a matter of governance. It is essential to accelerate the establishment of an institutional and regulatory system that facilitates efficient collaboration across departments and administrative levels … Digital Government Affairs are an upgraded version of e-government and a further expansion of Digital Government. They are also an important driving force for the coordinated development of the Digital Economy and Digital Society,” see “Inside Digital China (5/13): Digital Government.” ↩︎