Milestone Summary

What happened: China established the National Data Administration (NDA) as a central government body to oversee national data governance and implement the Digital China strategy.

Why it matters: This strategy milestone marked the transition of Digital China from a guiding national strategy into a permanently institutionalized governance system.

Strategic function: The NDA consolidates authority over data planning, data systems, and Digital China implementation across government, economy, and society.

Systemic impact: Responsibilities previously dispersed across multiple agencies were unified, enabling coordinated, lifecycle-based management of data resources and nationwide system integration.

Long-term signal: Provisions for establishing provincial-level data management institutions indicate intent to embed Digital China across China’s multi-level governance architecture.

Overview

The Central Government established the National Data Administration on March 16, 2023 to implement the Digital China strategy. This milestone unfolded through two tightly linked institutional actions:

(1) The Central Government’s publication of the Plan for the Reform of Party and State Institutions on March 16, 2023; and

(2) The State Council’s earlier submission of the Proposal on a Plan to Reform State Council Institutions to the 14th National People’s Congress on March 5, 2023.

Although established in March, the NDA was formally inaugurated on October 25, 2023, completing the transition from strategic intent to operational governance.

March 16, 2023: Central Government Establishes the National Data Administration

Driver
The Central Committee and the State Council publish the Plan for the Reform of Party and State Institutions (中共中央 国务院印发《党和国家机构改革方案》), including Section 14: Establish a National Data Administration, March 16, 2023.

Core Evolution (Systemic Shift)
For the first time, China assigned overall responsibility for planning and advancing Digital China, the digital economy, and the digital society to a dedicated, centralized national authority.

“China inaugurated the National Data Administration… to advance the planning and building of a Digital China, the digital economy, and a digital society.”

References
Archive: Perma.cc
Online: Xinhua
Translation: CSET, Ginger River Review

Key Authorities and Responsibilities (Section 14, paraphrased)

1. Mandate and Institutional Positioning

  • The NDA is responsible for coordinating and advancing the construction of Basic Systems for Data;
  • It exercises overall planning authority for the integration, sharing, development, and utilization of data resources;
  • It is charged with overall planning and advancing of Digital China, the digital economy, and the digital society;
  • The NDA is administratively managed by the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC).

2. Responsibilities Transferred from the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC)

  • Researching and drafting the Digital China Construction Plan;
  • Coordinating and advancing the informatization of public services and social governance;
  • Coordinating and promoting smart city construction;
  • Coordinating the development, use, and sharing of key national information resources;
  • Advancing cross-industry and cross-department interconnection and interoperability of information resources.

3. Responsibilities Transferred from the NDRC

  • Overall planning and advancing of digital economy development;
  • Organizing and implementing the National Big Data Strategy;
  • Advancing the construction of Basic Systems for Data Elements;
  • Advancing the layout and construction of digital infrastructure.

Analysis

Section 14 of the final Plan includes an additional provision not found in the earlier State Council proposal:

“Establish provincial-level government data management institutions as required, in light of actual conditions”
(省级政府数据管理机构结合实际)

Why this matters:
This language signals the intent to replicate the NDA governance model vertically across provincial governments. Rather than remaining a purely central authority, the NDA framework is designed to scale nationwide, transforming Digital China into a multi-level, institutionalized governance system.

Tags
basic systems for data elements 数据要素基础制度; data resource 数据资源; basic systems for data 数据基础制度; Digital China 数字中国; Digital China Construction Plan 数字中国建设方案; digital economy 数字经济; digital society 数字社会; informatization 信息化; interconnection and interoperability of information resources across industries and departments 信息资源跨行业跨部门互联互通; key national information resources 国家重要信息资源; National Big Data Strategy 国家大数据战略; provincial-level government data management institutions 省级政府数据管理机构; smart cities 智慧城市; social governance 社会治理

March 5, 2023: State Council Proposes Establishment of a National Data Administration

Driver
Premier Li Keqiang submits the Proposal on a Plan to Reform State Council Institutions (关于提请审议国务院机构改革方案的议案) to the 14th National People’s Congress, including Section 8: Establish a National Data Administration, March 5, 2023.

Core Evolution (Systemic Shift)
The State Council formally proposed consolidating responsibility for data governance and Digital China planning into a single national authority.

“…establish a National Data Administration to coordinate and advance the construction of basic systems for data elements, and comprehensively advance the planning and construction of Digital China, the digital economy, and the digital society.”

References
Archive: Ginger River Review, NPC Observer
Online: Explanation (Xinhua)
Translation: DigiChina, Ginger River Review

Key Points from the State Council Explanation (说明)

Strategic Rationale: Digital resources and the digital economy are fundamental to future national development.

In today’s society, digital resources and the digital economy play a fundamental role in economic and social development. They are significantly important to construct a New Development Pattern, build a modernized economic system, and enhance national competitive advantage. It is necessary to strengthen the management, development, and utilization of data.

Institutional Logic: An institutionalized governance system is required to advance the systemic development and application of data resources.

Under the premise of maintaining overall stability in current work patterns in areas such as data security, industry data supervision, informatized development, and the construction of digital government, the responsibilities related to the integration, sharing, development, and application of data resources will be relatively concentrated in the NDA…

Analysis

With the sole exception of the added provision on provincial-level institutions, Section 8 of the State Council proposal matches the content later finalized in Section 14 of the Central Government Plan. This continuity underscores that the establishment of the NDA was not an ad hoc reform, but a carefully designed institutional response to the strategic requirements of Digital China.

Tags
basic systems for data elements 数据要素基础制度; data resource 数据资源; basic systems for data 数据基础制度; Digital China 数字中国; digital economy 数字经济; digital society 数字社会; informatization 信息化; interconnection and interoperability of information resources across industries and departments 信息资源跨行业跨部门互联互通; key national information resources 国家重要信息资源; National Big Data Strategy 国家大数据战略; smart cities 智慧城市; social governance 社会治理