China’s top economic planning body, the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), is preparing a new wave of policy documents designed to move artificial intelligence from experimental stages into the core of the nation’s industrial fabric. Li Chao, a spokesperson for the NDRC, revealed during a press conference on May 22 that the agency is currently drafting supporting guidelines to accelerate the 'landing' of AI technologies across various sectors. This move signals a shift from broad innovation support to targeted implementation strategies aimed at securing China’s lead in the global tech race.
A central pillar of this upcoming policy is the mandate for central state-owned enterprises (SOEs) to open their high-value application scenarios to AI developers. Historically, the vast troves of data generated by China’s industrial giants have remained siloed behind bureaucratic and security barriers. By forcing these doors open, Beijing hopes to provide the raw material—high-quality, real-world data—necessary to train large-scale models that can solve complex engineering and management problems rather than just consumer-facing tasks.
Beyond data access, the NDRC is doubling down on 'elemental guarantees,' a term referring to the critical infrastructure and resources required for AI to function at scale. This includes the rapid expansion of computing power centers and the management of the massive energy demands associated with the AI boom. In a related statement, the NDRC noted that China’s peak electricity load is expected to hit 1.6 billion kilowatts this summer, highlighting the immense pressure that digital transformation and high-tech manufacturing are placing on the national grid.
The initiative also seeks to create 'AI benchmarks' across different regions and industries to serve as blueprints for the rest of the economy. These benchmarks are intended to demonstrate how AI can be integrated into everyday business management and operational links, rather than existing as standalone tech products. As the government looks toward the 15th Five-Year Plan, these efforts represent a coordinated attempt to transform AI into a 'new quality productive force' that can offset demographic headwinds and slowing traditional growth.