SHANGHAI, May 6 (Xinhua) — Reporter Hu Jiefei learned from the 2026 Global Digital Cooperation Exchange Conference held on the 6th that the Shanghai comprehensive pilot for international cooperation in the data field has been officially launched. This pilot focuses on 6 major sectors and 17 specific tasks, aiming to explore cooperation in cross-border infrastructure, institutional innovation, rule alignment, and scenario opening based on international practical cooperation in the digital economy.
“The world is accelerating into the era of intelligence, and the foundational resource role and innovative engine role of data are becoming increasingly evident,” said Yu Ying, Deputy Director of the National Data Administration. She noted that the National Data Administration has recently deployed international cooperation pilots in the data field, with Shanghai taking the lead in launching and forming a clear implementation plan. It is hoped that through this pilot, global enterprises will be attracted to participate in the marketization and value-added process of China’s data elements and share data development opportunities with China.
“As an emerging production factor, data is increasingly becoming an important force driving innovative development and promoting international cooperation,” said Zhang Ying, Deputy Secretary-General of the Shanghai Municipal Government. Shanghai serves as a bridgehead for serving national enterprises going global and an important window for international cooperation in the data field. Shanghai will further amplify its advantages in linking domestic and international markets and resources, promote the implementation of more high-value applications, and jointly create an open, innovative, and inclusive digital cooperation ecosystem.
According to reports, Shanghai will comprehensively advance international cooperation in the data field in the next steps: First, layout data cross-border flow service infrastructure that is internally and externally connected, safe and open, promoting the construction of international networks, cross-border storage and computing, and “head-to-head” data cross-border service facilities; second, establish mutually recognized and trusted data standards, continuously optimize data cross-border flow mechanisms, and promote digital rule dialogues and project cooperation with Hong Kong, Singapore, etc.; third, build integrated and innovative international cooperation platforms, promote the creation of high-level international data cooperation demonstration zones in areas such as Lingang, Pudong, and Hongqiao, while cultivating digital export service clusters in fields such as fintech, digital technology, and digital content, combined with regional industrial characteristics.
At the event, a cooperation initiative for global digital enterprise service ecosystem co-construction, co-discussion, and sharing was also released. Representatives from international institutions including the Serbian Chamber of Commerce, the Argentine Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai, the German Federal Association for Economic Development and Foreign Trade, London & Partners, and the DEPA International Center, along with organizations such as Lingang Group and the Shanghai Digital Enterprise Overseas Service Association, as well as leading enterprises, jointly released this initiative.
