On April 22, the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Economy and Information Technology held a press conference on the economic operation for the first quarter of 2026. It was reported that in the first quarter of this year, the growth rate of Beijing’s digital economy added value reached 9.3%, with the core digital economy industries achieving a growth rate of 12%. The digital economy has become a key engine driving the high-quality development of the city’s economy.

In the first quarter, Beijing’s efforts to build a global benchmark city for the digital economy yielded results. New breakthroughs were made in the development of the artificial intelligence industry. Zhipu AI was listed on the main board of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, becoming the world’s first listed company with a general artificial intelligence (AGI) foundational model as its core business. ByteDance released a new generation video generation model, Seedance 2.0, which ranked first in multiple international authoritative multimodal video generation evaluations. The Doubao app has accumulated over 8.87 billion downloads, firmly holding the top spot in China. Moonshot AI successively open-sourced Kimi K2.5 and K2.6, leveraging native multimodal and multi-agent collaboration capabilities to repeatedly top global open-source model rankings. As of now, a total of 225 large models in the city have been registered with the Cyberspace Administration of China, accounting for about 30% of the national total, continuing to rank first nationwide.

New progress was made in the high-quality supply of computing power resources. In the first quarter, an additional 10,000 P of computing power was added within the city, bringing the total computing power scale to 70,000 P. The construction of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei “Galaxy Computing Corridor” project accelerated, aiming to establish a cross-regional, multi-tiered collaborative computing power development system. In the first quarter, over 900,000 P of high-quality computing power resources from the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region and western areas were utilized. A total of 40 existing data centers in the city initiated green and low-carbon upgrade transformations.

Digital empowerment for enterprise development and social governance reached a new level. In the first quarter, Beijing officially released the 3.0 version of the comprehensive supporting reform plan for the facilitation of cross-border data flow, promoting the shift of data cross-border from “compliance-driven” to “factor value-driven.” The “Beijing Comprehensive Deepening of ‘One-Stop Online Service’ to Promote Digital and Intelligent Development of Government Services Action Plan (2026-2027)” was issued, continuously optimizing smart government service scenarios and comprehensively enhancing the capital’s digital governance and the efficiency of services benefiting enterprises and the public.

Going forward, the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Economy and Information Technology will fully implement the “Key Points for Beijing’s Construction of a Global Benchmark City for the Digital Economy in 2026,” focusing on advancing various tasks to achieve new progress. In terms of digital technology breakthroughs, efforts will concentrate on key areas such as AI large models, 6G, quantum information, and embodied intelligence to drive technological breakthroughs and produce more innovative achievements.

For digital industry development, the scale of the AI industry will continue to expand, with benchmark projects like the common underlying framework for intelligent agents being built, and the scope of intelligent application scenarios across industries will be widely expanded. Collaborative efforts between embodied intelligence complete machine and component enterprises will be organized, and the second World Humanoid Robot Sports Meet will be held at a high level. A batch of intelligent terminal products, such as AI glasses and AI PCs, will be launched.

In digital application innovation, a number of national AI application pilot bases will be rapidly established. Special policies for AI empowering vertical industries will be researched and introduced, creating a batch of benchmark application scenarios. AIGC will be promoted to empower short drama and film creation, and digital economy parks carrying the clustered development of OPC will be built.

Regarding digital infrastructure, the construction of the “super node + industry node” intelligent computing power support belt within the city will continue, with an additional smart computing scale of over 70,000 P planned for the year. The scale of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei “Galaxy Computing Corridor” project will be further expanded, driving the implementation of key projects and consolidating collaborative computing power development efforts. The deployment of 5G-A and 10-gigabit optical networks will be accelerated, further improving 5G network coverage in subway and highway tunnels, and promoting the large-scale construction and application of industrial 5G private networks.

Additionally, Beijing will strengthen digital service guarantees, continuously optimize the “Jingtong” government services, deepen one-stop online services, accelerate the construction of large model scenarios in the government affairs field, and create a batch of standardized, replicable smart government benchmark applications.</p

Hong Kong Stock Exchange

The Hong Kong Stock Exchange (HKEX) was founded in 1891 as the Association of Stockbrokers in Hong Kong, making it one of Asia’s oldest stock exchanges. It has grown into a major global financial hub, particularly known for facilitating international capital flows and being a primary listing venue for mainland Chinese companies. Today, HKEX is one of the world’s largest stock exchanges by market capitalization, playing a critical role in connecting Chinese markets with global investors.

Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei

The Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, often called Jing-Jin-Ji, is a major economic and cultural hub in northern China, centered around the capital Beijing, the port city Tianjin, and the surrounding Hebei province. Historically, this area has been the political heart of China for centuries, with Beijing serving as the imperial capital during the Ming and Qing dynasties, while Tianjin developed as a key treaty port in the 19th century. Today, the region is undergoing coordinated development to reduce pollution, improve transportation, and create a world-class urban cluster.

Galaxy Computing Corridor

The Galaxy Computing Corridor is a proposed high-tech development zone in China, designed to concentrate advanced computing and artificial intelligence industries. Drawing inspiration from established tech hubs, it aims to foster innovation and economic growth through a cluster of research centers, data facilities, and technology companies. While still in its early conceptual stages, it represents a strategic effort to accelerate China’s technological self-sufficiency and global competitiveness in computing.

World Humanoid Robot Sports Meet

The World Humanoid Robot Sports Meet is an international competition where humanoid robots compete in athletic events like soccer, sprinting, and obstacle courses. Launched in recent years, it aims to showcase advancements in robotics, artificial intelligence, and mechanical engineering, while fostering global collaboration. This event highlights the growing capabilities of humanoid robots to mimic human movement and interact with dynamic environments.

Jingtong

Jingtong, located in New Taipei City, Taiwan, was a thriving coal mining town during the Japanese colonial period and the early post-war era, playing a key role in the region’s industrial development. The town’s decline began in the 1970s as the coal industry faded, but it has since transformed into a popular tourist destination. Today, visitors are drawn to its nostalgic old streets, historic mining relics, and the scenic Jingtong Railway, which offers a glimpse into Taiwan’s mining heritage.

Beijing Municipal Bureau of Economy and Information Technology

The Beijing Municipal Bureau of Economy and Information Technology is a government agency responsible for overseeing the economic development and digital transformation of Beijing. It manages policies related to industry, information technology, and innovation, supporting the city’s transition toward high-tech and sustainable growth. The bureau plays a key role in implementing China’s national strategies for technological advancement and smart city initiatives.

Cyberspace Administration of China

The Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) is the national regulatory body responsible for overseeing internet content, cybersecurity, and data governance in China. Established in 2014, it was created to enforce the country’s internet laws, manage online information, and ensure a “clean” cyberspace. The CAC plays a central role in shaping China’s digital policies, including the implementation of key regulations such as the Cybersecurity Law and the Personal Information Protection Law.

Beijing

Beijing, the capital of China, is one of the world’s oldest continuously inhabited cities, with a history spanning over 3,000 years. It has served as the imperial capital for much of the last millennium, most famously during the Ming and Qing dynasties, leaving landmarks like the Forbidden City and the Great Wall. Today, it stands as a vibrant global metropolis, blending ancient cultural heritage with modern innovation.