China inaugurates World Data Organization in Beijing

China launched the World Data Organization, a non-governmental, non-profit platform aimed at coordinating global data cooperation and to bridge the data divide, on Monday.

Headquartered in Beijing, the body is positioned as an open, international organization for industry players, researchers and institutions and seeks to "bridge the data divide, unlock data value and drive digital economic growth".

WDO told China Daily that it aims to evolve into an influential global hub for data governance and collaboration by around 2030.

The organization has already brought together institutions and companies from multiple countries to promote cooperation across the data ecosystem, it said.

Unlike treaty-based institutions such as the WTO, WDO will not set binding rules. Instead, it will focus on policy coordination, standards recommendations, technical collaboration and capacity building, acting as a "trust anchor" for cross-border data flows, it added.

The launch comes as data is increasingly viewed as a strategic production factor, underpinning industrial upgrading and economic expansion.

In China, the output of core digital industries is projected to reach 10.5 percent of GDP by 2025, as data-driven applications scale across manufacturing, services and artificial intelligence.

While the organization is legally registered in China, it is structured as a voluntary international association with membership spanning multiple countries and sectors, WDO said.

Its governance model is designed to ensure equal participation and voting rights, aiming to broaden representation in global data discussions, it added.