[The 15th Five-Year Plan] focuses on the efficient supply of compute, algorithms, and data, as well as the use of digital-intelligent technologies to empower economic and social development, charting a clear course for the construction of Digital China over the next five years.

“Charting a Clear Course for the Construction of Digital China: The 15th Five-Year Plan Centers on Data,” China Central Television News, March 17, 2026

This China Central Television (CCTV) report closely mirrors the Digital China sections of the 15th Five-Year Plan. In doing so, it reinforces a key point: the Party is organizing Digital China as a coordinated system of supply (compute, algorithms, data), deployment (Artificial Intelligence Plus), and governance (institutions, regulation, and international engagement). This structure aligns closely with the concept of a Digital China “stack,” in which different types of systems and mechanisms operate together as a unified national architecture. What is being built is not simply digital capability, but a coordinated framework for organizing the production, circulation, and application of data resources at scale.

A lightly edited Google Translate machine translation of “Charting a Clear Course for the Construction of Digital China: The 15th Five-Year Plan Centers on Data” follows below. My summary and analysis of the article can be found here.

Charting a Clear Course for the Construction of Digital China: The 15th Five-Year Plan Centers on Data
为数字中国建设划定清晰路线 “十五五” 有“数”

Source: China Central Television News | CCTV | 央视新闻 (Reposted to Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) website)

Publication Date: March 17, 2026

Translation Note: Text is bolded as it appeared in the original CCTV report, intended to highlight points of emphasis. Headings and sub-headings are presented in blue as in the original CCTV report. The structure of this report mirrors the 15th Five-Year Plan itself, moving from foundational supply systems (compute, algorithms, data), to system-wide deployment (Artificial Intelligence+), and finally to governance and international coordination.

Recently, the Outline of the 15th Five-Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development of the People’s Republic of China was officially released. | 日前，《中华人民共和国国民经济和社会发展第十五个五年规划纲要》正式发布。

In line with the accelerating trajectory of digital technologies and artificial intelligence, the Plan elevates the improvement of digital-intelligent development into a dedicated section.1 It focuses on the efficient supply of compute, algorithms, and data, as well as the use of digital-intelligent technologies to empower economic and social development, charting a clear course for the construction of Digital China over the next five years. | 顺应数字技术和人工智能发展大势，纲要将提升数智化发展水平单独成篇，聚焦算力、算法、数据高效供给和数智技术赋能经济社会发展，为未来5年数字中国建设划定清晰路线。

  • In terms of compute, accelerate the construction of a National Unified Computing Power Network; advance the large-scale, intensive, green, and inclusive development of compute resources.2 | 算力方面，加快建设全国一体化算力网，推进算力资源规模化、集约化、绿色化、普惠化发展。
  • In terms of algorithms, achieve breakthroughs in foundational AI theory and core technologies; strengthen the development of key algorithms; and advance iterative innovation in models and algorithms. | 算法方面，突破人工智能基础理论和核心技术，加强关键算法研发，推进模型算法迭代创新。
  • In terms of data, improve Basic Systems for Data Factors (aka Data Elements); and deepen the development and utilization of data resources.3 | 数据方面，健全数据要素基础制度，深化数据资源开发利用。
  • In terms of enablement, fully implement the “Artificial Intelligence Plus” initiative; empower all sectors of the economy and society; and drive deep transformation in production methods and a leap in productivity.4 | 赋能方面，全面实施“人工智能+”行动，全方位赋能千行百业，促进生产方式深层次变革和生产力革命性跃迁。

Translation Note: The Plan groups compute, algorithms, and data together as a coordinated system of supply. This suggests a co-evolving integrated production system rather than a strictly hierarchical “stack,” an important consideration for interpreting Digital China’s underlying architecture.

Source: “Strengthen the Efficient Provision of Compute, Algorithms, and Data | 强化算力算法数据高效供给” in “Charting a Clear Course for the Construction of Digital China: The 15th Five-Year Plan Centers on Data” (为数字中国建设划定清晰路线 “十五五” 有“数”), CCTV News (央视新闻), March 17, 2026.

Strengthen the Efficient Supply of Compute, Algorithms, and Data
强化算力算法数据高效供给

Translation Note: Notably, this section closely mirrors Chapter 12 of the 15th Five-Year Plan, reproducing its three-part structure of compute, algorithms, and data. This alignment suggests that official media is not simply summarizing policy, but reinforcing a core architectural framework.

Coordinate the advancement of computing power infrastructure, model and algorithm development, and the supply of high-quality data resources to build a solid foundation for digital-intelligent development. | 统筹推进算力设施建设、模型算法发展和高质量数据资源供给，筑牢数智化发展底座。

Strengthen Computing Power Infrastructure Support
加强算力设施支撑

  • Coordinate the layout and orderly construction of computing power infrastructure; advance the large-scale, intensive, green, and inclusive development of compute resources. | 统筹布局、有序建设算力设施，推进算力资源规模化、集约化、绿色化、普惠化发展。
  • Accelerate the development of national hub computing power infrastructure clusters, support qualified regions in moderately expanding compute based on low-latency application needs, and promote collaborative development across cloud, edge, and end systems. Strengthen the supply of high-performance, high-quality intelligent computing resources, and explore the construction of Ultra-Large-Scale Intelligent Computing Clusters. | 加快国家枢纽算力设施集群建设，支持有条件地区根据低时延场景需求适度发展算力，推进云边端协同发展。加强高性能高质量智算资源供给，论证建设超大规模智算集群。
  • Promote market-oriented construction and operation of computing power infrastructure, supporting diverse mechanisms, including government procurement of compute services and compute leasing, to meet demand, and advance the development of standardized, scalable intelligent cloud services. | 推进算力设施市场化建设运营，支持通过政府购买算力服务、算力租赁等多种方式满足算力需求，创新发展标准化可扩展的智算云服务。
  • Advance the collaborative deployment of green electric power and computing power. | 推动绿色电力与算力协同布局。
  • Strengthen National Unified Computing Power Monitoring and Scheduling, improving compute access and precision matching capabilities. Accelerate the development of an independent, controllable, and collaboratively operating hardware and software ecosystem. | 加强全国一体化算力监测调度，提升算力接入和精准匹配能力。加快培育自主可控、协同运行的软硬件生态。
  • Enhance the accessibility and ease of use of compute, reducing costs for small and medium-sized enterprises. | 提升算力普惠易用水平，降低中小企业用算成本。

Promote Iterative Innovation in Models and Algorithms.
促进模型算法迭代创新

  • Accelerate breakthroughs in foundational artificial intelligence theory and core technologies, advance improvements in AI model architectures and algorithm optimization, and strengthen collaborative innovation across models, chips, cloud, and applications.5 | 加快突破人工智能基础理论和核心技术，推进人工智能模型架构改进、算法优化，强化“模芯云用”协同创新。
  • Establish task-oriented, flexibly authorized, and cross-domain collaborative innovation models for algorithms, and accelerate research into more efficient methods for model training and inference. | 构建任务导向、灵活授权、跨域协同的算法创新组织模式，加快研究更加高效的模型训练和推理方法。
  • Encourage innovation in multimodal systems, intelligent agents, embodied intelligence, and swarm intelligence, and explore development pathways toward artificial general intelligence (AGI). | 鼓励多模态、智能体、具身智能、群体智能等技术创新，探索通用人工智能发展路径。
  • Promote the parallel development of general-purpose large models and industry-specific models, using high-value application scenarios to drive deployment and iterative upgrading. Establish and improve systems for evaluating model capabilities. | 推动通用大模型和行业专用模型同步发展，依托高价值场景推动模型应用落地和迭代升级。建立健全模型能力评估体系。

Deepen the Development and Utilization of Data Resources
深化开发利用

  • Build a national data resource system, improve statistical and accounting systems for data resources, and establish a National Data Resource “Ledger.”6 | 构建国家数据资源体系，健全数据资源统计调查制度，建立全国数据资源“一本账”。
  • Coordinate and advance the sharing of government affairs data, the open and authorized use of public data, and improve accountability mechanisms for public data utilization and compliance mechanisms for personal data use, while promoting the development and opening of enterprise and industry data. | 统筹推进政务数据共享、公共数据开放和授权运营，健全公共数据资源开发利用责任制和个人数据合规利用机制，推动企业数据、行业数据开发开放。
  • Improve data standards and quality management systems, accelerate the construction of AI training corpora, and develop high-quality datasets across sectors including energy, transportation, manufacturing, education, healthcare, and finance. Establish systems governing the appropriate use of AI training data. | 完善数据标准体系和质量管理体系，加快建设人工智能语料库，面向能源、交通、制造、教育、健康、金融等领域建设高质量数据集，建立人工智能训练数据合理使用制度。
  • Strengthen the development and application of key technologies and equipment in the data domain, foster the growth of the data industry, and deepen implementation of the “Data Factor ×” initiative.7 | 加强数据领域关键技术和设备研发应用，培育壮大数据产业，深入开展“数据要素×”行动。
  • Build and operate National Data Infrastructure and implement initiatives for the development of trusted data spaces. | 建设和运营国家数据基础设施，实施可信数据空间发展行动计划。
Source: “Advance the Comprehensive Empowerment of Digital-Intelligent Technologies | 全方位推进数智技术赋能” in “Charting a Clear Course for the Construction of Digital China: The 15th Five-Year Plan Centers on Data” (为数字中国建设划定清晰路线 “十五五” 有“数”), CCTV News (央视新闻), March 17, 2026.

Advance the Comprehensive Empowerment of Digital-Intelligent Technologies
全方位推进数智技术赋能

Translation note: This section closely mirrors Chapter 13 of the 15th Five-Year Plan, reproducing its three-part structure across the economy, society, and government. This alignment indicates that official media is reinforcing a system-wide deployment model for Digital China. In this framework, “Artificial Intelligence Plus” functions as the mechanism through which compute and data systems are translated into real-world capability, embedding digital technologies across all domains of economic and social activity.

Fully implement the “Artificial Intelligence Plus” initiative, strengthen the integration of artificial intelligence with scientific and technological innovation, industrial development, cultural development, public services, and social governance, seize the commanding heights (or gain the strategic advantage) of AI industrial applications, and empower all sectors of the economy and society. | 全面实施“人工智能+”行动，加强人工智能同科技创新、产业发展、文化建设、民生保障、社会治理相结合，抢占人工智能产业应用制高点，全方位赋能千行百业。

Promote the Deep Fusion of the Real Economy and the Digital Economy
促进实体经济和数字经济深度融合

  • Strengthen the core industries of the digital economy, develop sectors such as next-generation communications, cloud computing, and blockchain, and elevate the capabilities of high-end chips, optoelectronic devices, foundational software, and industrial software to build globally competitive digital industry clusters. | 壮大数字经济核心产业，发展新一代通信技术、云计算、区块链等产业，提升高端芯片、光电子器件、基础软件和工业软件等产业水平，打造具有国际竞争力的数字产业集群。
  • Advance the development of National AI Innovation Hubs, cultivate new AI-native business models and formats, and establish national pilot platforms for AI application testing and deployment. | 推进国家人工智能创新高地建设，培育智能原生新模式新业态，建设国家人工智能应用中试基地。
  • Promote the transformation of manufacturing through intelligent upgrading, digital transformation, and network integration,8 implement the Intelligent Manufacturing Initiative and the Industrial Internet Innovation and Development Initiative, and advance the integrated development and large-scale application of networks, identifiers, platforms, data, and security systems. | 促进制造业“智改数转网联”，实施智能制造工程和工业互联网创新发展工程，一体推进网络、标识、平台、数据、安全体系建设和规模化应用。
  • Advance digital-intelligent transformation in the services sector and develop smart agriculture. | 推进服务业数智化，发展智慧农业。
  • Build networks to support digital-intelligent transformation, improve the service system for digital-intelligent empowerment of small and medium-sized enterprises. Advance the development of open-source ecosystems and improve open-source operational mechanisms. | 建设数智化转型促进网络，健全中小企业数智赋能服务体系。推进开源体系建设，完善开源运行机制。

Create a Better Digital-Intelligent Life
创造美好数智生活

  • Fully leverage digital-intelligent technologies and data factors to enrich people’s lives and improve social welfare, expand integrated applications across sectors such as education, healthcare, elder care, culture and tourism, employment, and consumption. | 充分发挥数智技术和数据要素对丰富人民生活、改善民生福祉的作用，拓展教育、医疗、养老、文旅、就业、消费等领域融合应用。
  • Expand smart home, smart mobility, and smart community applications, develop intelligent terminal products and services, and build accessible digital-intelligent service ecosystems. | 丰富智能家居、智慧出行和智慧社区场景，发展智能终端产品和服务，构建数智便民服务圈。
  • Promote the use of artificial intelligence to transform education models and steadily expand applications in assisted diagnosis, precision medicine, health management, medical insurance services, elder care, and disability services. | 促进人工智能助力教育模式变革，有序推动数智技术在辅助诊疗、精准医疗、健康管理、医保服务、养老助残等场景的应用。
  • Deepen the nationwide initiative to improve digital literacy and skills, strengthening the role of artificial intelligence in job creation. | 深入实施全民数字素养与技能提升行动，强化人工智能的就业创造效应。
  • Explore the use of digital-intelligent technologies to improve primary healthcare services, promote educational equity, and support the equalization of basic public services. | 积极探索运用数智技术提高基层医疗服务能力、促进教育公平，助力基本公共服务均等化。

Improve the Digital-Intelligent Level of Government Governance
提高政府治理数智化水平

  • Deepen the full-process application of digital-intelligent technologies and develop government services that are ubiquitous and accessible, smart and convenient, and equitable and inclusive. | 深化数智技术全流程应用，发展泛在可及、智慧便捷、公平普惠的数智化政务服务。
  • Improve the National Unified Online Government Services Platform, strengthen the development of the “One-Stop” data platform and the supporting system for public applications,9 and promote cross-departmental, cross-level, and cross-regional data sharing and utilization of government affairs data. | 完善覆盖全国的一体化在线政务服务平台，强化数据“一表通”和公共应用支撑体系建设，推进政务数据跨部门跨层级跨地区共享利用。
  • Advance the safe, steady, and orderly deployment and application of large AI models for government affairs and explore the development of new service models that accurately identify needs, proactively plan services, and provide intelligent management of the entire process. | 安全稳妥有序推进政务领域人工智能大模型部署应用，探索构建精准识别需求、主动规划服务、全程智能办理的服务新模式。
  • Deepen the use of artificial intelligence in security governance, enhancing capabilities in monitoring and early warning, command and decision-making, precision management, and rapid response. | 深化人工智能赋能安全治理，提升感知预警、指挥决策、精准管理和即时响应能力。
Source: “Foster a Healthy and Orderly Development Ecosystem | 营造健康有序的发展生态” in “Charting a Clear Course for the Construction of Digital China: The 15th Five-Year Plan Centers on Data” (为数字中国建设划定清晰路线 “十五五” 有“数”), CCTV News (央视新闻), March 17, 2026.

Foster a Healthy and Orderly Development Ecosystem
营造健康有序的发展生态

Translation note: This section mirrors Chapter 14 of the 15th Five-Year Plan, completing a three-part structure that spans foundational systems (compute, algorithms, data), system-wide deployment (Artificial Intelligence Plus), and institutional governance. This final section makes clear that Digital China is not only a domestic system, but one increasingly designed to extend outward through infrastructure, data flows, and international rule-setting.

Uphold integrated coordination of promoting development and regulating management (coordinate development and regulation),10 strengthen the development and regulation of Basic Systems for Data and the governance of artificial intelligence, and create a development environment that is beneficial, secure, and fair. | 坚持促进发展和规范管理相统筹，加强数据基础制度规则建设和人工智能治理，营造有益、安全、公平的发展环境。

Improve Basic Systems for Data Factors (aka Data Elements)11
健全数据要素基础制度

  • Establish and improve Basic Systems for Data Factors governing data property rights, circulation and utilization, revenue distribution, and security governance. | 建立健全数据产权、流通利用、收益分配、安全治理等数据要素基础制度。
  • Refine the system of structurally separated data property rights and build a National Unified Data Property Rights Registration System. | 完善数据产权结构性分置制度，构建全国统一的数据产权登记体系。12
  • Develop an open, shared, and secure National Unified Data Market, accelerate the improvement of rules and standards for data circulation and trading, optimize the layout of data trading institutions, and regulate the development of third-party professional service providers. | 建设开放共享安全的全国一体化数据市场，加快完善数据流通交易规则和标准，优化数据交易机构布局，规范发展第三方专业服务机构。
  • Establish a mechanism for data factor pricing and explore a data revenue distribution mechanism that balances the interests of all parties. | 建立数据要素价格形成机制，探索兼顾各方利益的数据收益分配机制。
  • Improve laws and regulations in the data domain and strengthen governance rules for data collection, storage, circulation, and use. | 完善数据领域法律法规，健全数据采集、存储、流通、使用管理规则。
  • Implement data classification and tiered management; and enhance data security protection capabilities. | 实施数据分类分级管理，提升数据安全保护能力。

Improve Scientific and Effective Regulatory Mechanisms
完善科学有效监管机制

  • Strengthen security regulatory frameworks for new technologies and new business models, establish mechanisms for developing and adjusting technology standards and for the tiered management of technology applications, and promote multi-stakeholder collaborative governance. | 健全新技术新业态安全监管框架，构建技术标准研制调整、技术应用分级管理机制，推进多元协同共治。
  • Improve laws and regulations, policy frameworks, application standards, and ethical guidelines in the field of artificial intelligence; strengthen systems for algorithm registration, transparency management, and security assessment;13 and explore rules governing ownership and responsibility for AI-generated content among developers, operators, and users. | 完善人工智能领域法律法规、政策制度、应用规范、伦理准则，健全算法备案、透明度管理、安全评估等制度，探索建立人工智能生成物权利归属和开发者经营者使用者权责认定规则。
  • Promote the establishment of a risk management system covering the entire lifecycle of artificial intelligence, and improve the risk prevention and control system to encompass security monitoring, risk early warning, and emergency response. | 推动建立人工智能全生命周期风险管理制度，健全覆盖安全监测、风险预警、应急响应的风险防控体系。
  • Support innovation and healthy development in the platform economy; strengthen oversight of platform enterprise data, algorithms, traffic, and rules;14 and promote mutually beneficial development among platform enterprises, on-platform operators, and workers. | 推动平台经济创新和健康发展，加强平台企业数据、算法、流量和规则监管，促进平台企业和平台内经营者、劳动者共赢发展。
  • Crack down on illegal activities such as data abuse, deepfakes, and privacy violations in accordance with the law. | 依法打击数据滥用、深度伪造、泄露隐私等行为。

Expand International Cooperation in the Digital-Intelligent Domain
拓展数智领域国际合作

  • Build a global network of digital cooperation partnerships, deepen cooperation in areas such as e-commerce, digital payments, and smart cities, and explore the development of offshore computing power infrastructure and cross-border data flow service infrastructure. | 构建全球数字合作伙伴关系网络，深化电子商务、数字支付、智慧城市等领域合作，探索建设离岸算力设施、数据跨境流动服务基础设施。
  • Actively participate in international governance in areas such as artificial intelligence, digital currency, and cross-border data flows; promote greater consensus in areas such as data security, privacy protection, and cross-border law enforcement cooperation; and strengthen international judicial coordination and mutual recognition of rules. | 积极参与人工智能、数字货币、数据跨境流动等领域国际治理，在数据安全、隐私保护、跨境执法协作等方面达成更多共识，加强国际司法协调和规则互认。
  • Proactively establish an AI governance framework with broad country participation; jointly build an open global AI ecosystem characterized by equality, mutual trust, diversity, and mutual benefit (win-win); and support capacity building in artificial intelligence across Global South countries. | 推动建立各国广泛参与的人工智能治理框架，共同构建平权、互信、多元、共赢的全球人工智能开放生态，支持全球南方国家加强人工智能能力建设。

Footnotes

  1. The term digital-intelligent development (数智化发展) combines “digitalization” and “intelligentization,” reflecting the Party’s view that data and artificial intelligence are now inseparable drivers of development. It is rendered here as “digital-intelligent development” to preserve that integrated meaning. ↩︎
  2. 算力 is translated as both “compute” and “computing power” in PRC state-run media, sometimes randomly and sometimes to distinguish system (体系) from infrastructure (基础建设). This translation adopts the latter model in an effort to maintain consistency across translation, except in cases of formal titles or standard phrases. ↩︎
  3. Data factors (数据要素), also translated as data elements, are data resources that contribute to production and business activities and help create value. While PRC state-run media prefers “data element,” “data factor” is more accurate. It ties the concept to its historical materialist root as a factor of production, alongside land, labor, capital, and technology. It also avoids a translation collision: both 数据要素 and 数据元件 (data component) are commonly rendered as “data element,” creating unnecessary ambiguity. ↩︎
  4. Artificial Intelligence Plus (人工智能+) is a formal policy concept referring to the integration of AI across sectors of the economy and society, analogous to earlier “Internet Plus” initiatives. ↩︎
  5. Model-chip-cloud-application (模芯云用) reflects collaborative innovation linking hardware, infrastructure, and applications. Its inclusion reinforces that algorithms are not treated as an isolated layer, but as part of an integrated technical system. ↩︎
  6. National Data Resource Ledger (全国数据资源“一本账”) (or National Data Ledger) is a key concept indicating centralized visibility and accounting of national data resources, an important component of the emerging data system architecture. ↩︎
  7. Data Factor x (数据要素×) (aka Data Element x) is a policy initiative aimed at multiplying the value of data by integrating it across sectors and use cases. ↩︎
  8. The bundled phrase “intelligent upgrading, digital transformation, and network integration” (智改数转网联) is indicative of system-wide industrial transformation rather than discrete adoption of technology. ↩︎
  9. 一表通 literally means “one table through” and refers to government efforts to integrate government services data via standardized “tables” or forms which allows the information to flow across departments. It is described as the opposite of data silos. ↩︎
  10. Development and regulation (发展与规范并重) is a governance principle emphasizing that technological development and regulatory control must proceed in parallel, reflecting the Party’s approach to managing digital transformation. ↩︎
  11. Ibid. 3 ↩︎
  12. Structural separation of data property rights (结构性分置) is an institutional approach that separates different rights (ownership, use, revenue) within data assets and is central to China’s evolving data governance model. ↩︎
  13. Algorithm registration, transparency, and security assessment (算法备案 / 透明度 / 安全评估) are key components of China’s emerging AI regulatory regime. ↩︎
  14. Platform regulation (平台监管) extends governance beyond data to include control over algorithms, traffic, and platform rules, highlighting the system-wide nature of governance. ↩︎