Foreign visitors interact with a humanoid robot during the 2026 Global Digital Economy Conference in Beijing on July 2. CHEN XIAOGEN/FOR CHINA DAILY
China's digital economy is becoming a more visible driver of high-quality growth, moving beyond headline figures to play a deeper role in industrial upgrading, urban governance, public services and international exchanges.
"Developing the digital economy is a strategic choice to seize the opportunities brought by a new round of technological revolution and industrial transformation," said Wang Jingtao, deputy director of the Cyberspace Administration of China, at the opening ceremony of the 2026 Global Digital Economy Conference in Beijing on July 2.
Data from the National Data Administration showed that the added value of China's digital economy reached 49 trillion yuan ($7.22 trillion) in 2025, accounting for about 35 percent of its GDP. Notably, the added value of core digital economy industries is expected to exceed 14.7 trillion yuan, making up more than 10.5 percent of GDP.
According to classifications by the National Bureau of Statistics, China's digital economy covers five broad categories: digital product manufacturing, digital product services, digital technology applications, data factor-driven industries, and industries supported by digital efficiency improvements.
