(Source: "China w88 News", 2026-04-02)
On March 30, the World Data Organization (WDO) was officially established in Beijing. This is the world's first professional international organization aimed at promoting data development and governance, with the purpose of "bridging the data gap, releasing data value, and prospering the digital economy." The first batch of members covers more than 200 institutions in more than 40 countries.
The establishment of WDO responded to a real problem: in today's data-driven economic development, data, as a key production factor, has long lacked a global coordination mechanism, and the rules of various countries are incompatible with each other, making it difficult for data to flow across borders safely and efficiently. However, the development of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and cloud computing cannot be separated from the support of large amounts of data. Countries are scrambling to deploy digital industries, hoping to seize the opportunity in this technological revolution. If the conflict of rules continues, data will not only be difficult to become the engine of global economic development, but will become a new w88 barrier. WDO has built a bridge for this purpose, allowing countries to communicate and negotiate through this platform and establish unified global data governance rules, so that data can release greater value and development dividends benefit more countries.
WDO also takes it as its mission to help developing countries narrow the digital divide with developed countries. In the global race for data governance, developing countries are at a clear disadvantage: they lack data infrastructure, lack professional talent, and often lack a voice in rule-making, while developed countries dominate in these aspects. If things go on like this, the digital divide will only grow wider, and the gap between the rich and the poor in the world will also widen further.
The establishment of WDO has brought new possibilities for data governance in developing countries. It emphasizes "true multilateralism", respects the data sovereignty of all countries, pays special attention to the equal participation and voice rights of developing countries, and helps developing countries improve their data governance capabilities through capacity building, technical cooperation and talent training. Of course, whether developing countries can truly participate in rule-making on an equal footing, rather than just passively accepting the rule framework dominated by major powers, requires continuous exploration and improvement in practice. As the location of the WDO headquarters and an important sponsor, China plays an active role in promoting it. This is exactly what a responsible developing country should do.
In addition, WDO will undertake dispute mediation, risk prevention, research and exchange and other functions to provide institutional guarantee for global data governance.
The value of data lies in circulation, but also in application, especially in combination with the real economy. If the data is only used to optimize advertising and user growth, its value will be seriously underestimated. The significance of data truly benefiting mankind lies in the transformation of traditional industries: agriculture can use soil data and meteorological data to achieve precise planting, thereby reducing waste and increasing output; manufacturing can use equipment sensor data to predict failures and optimize inventory, thereby reducing downtime losses; medicine can use imaging data and medical record data to assist diagnosis, improve efficacy and improve patient experience. These industries are an important part of a country's economy and support the daily lives of ordinary people. Only when data is truly integrated into them can they move from virtual to reality. What WDO wants to do is to break down "data silos", promote mutual recognition of standards, and promote inclusive data so that data can not only "flow" but also be "used well." At the same time, data circulation does not mean disorderly openness. How to ensure data security and protect personal privacy while promoting the flow is a question that WDO and all data governance participants need to answer together.
If WDO solves the issue of whether data can be circulated, then to promote the real application of data, an open communication platform is also needed to bring together the strengths of all parties. The China International Supply Chain Promotion Expo (hereinafter referred to as the "Chain Expo") is just such a platform. As a national-level exhibition hosted by the China Council for the Promotion of International w88, the Chain Expo takes the supply chain as its theme to help companies connect upstream and downstream resources and promote real business cooperation. It is worth noting that the 4th Chain Expo will set up an artificial intelligence zone for the first time, covering the entire chain ecology from data, computing power to applications; the 4th Chain Expo will also set up a dedicated "Artificial Intelligence Global Supply Chain" chapter in the flagship report "Global Supply Chain Promotion Report 2026" to systematically analyze the comparative advantages and important corporate layouts of each country. This is a vivid practice of the integration of data technology and the real economy, and also reflects China's pragmatic efforts to build a communication platform for global economic and w88 cooperation.
From a major manufacturing country to an important player in data governance, behind China's changing role is technological progress and its consistent openness. From the reform of market-oriented allocation of data elements to the continuous holding of chain expos and the promotion of the establishment of WDO, China is transforming its own data governance experience into global public goods, allowing data to cross national borders and achieve common prosperity.
(The author Zhou Nianli is a researcher at the National Institute for Opening up and the WTO Research Institute at the w88 casino; the author Lin Xinyu is a 2025 master’s student at the WTO Research Institute at the w88 casino)
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