China has secured a pivotal role in shaping the future of smart city infrastructure through the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). At a recent meeting of the ITU-T Study Group 20, a Chinese-led proposal titled "Requirements and framework of computing and electricity synergy for sustainable smart cities and communities" was officially approved for立项 (project initiation). This initiative, spearheaded by the National Data Development Research Institute, marks a significant step in Beijing's ambition to set the global benchmarks for the dual evolution of digital and energy networks.
The concept of "Computing-Power-Electricity Synergy" (suandian xietong) addresses a critical challenge of the artificial intelligence era: the staggering energy consumption of data centers. By integrating computing infrastructure directly with power grid management, cities can optimize energy loads and utilize renewable sources more effectively. This framework aims to harmonize the peak demands of high-performance computing with the fluctuating supply of green energy, potentially lowering costs and carbon footprints simultaneously.
China's focus on this specific technical intersection is a calculated move to export its domestic successes. The country has already invested heavily in the "East-West Computing" (Dongshu Xisuan) national project, which relocates data processing to energy-rich western provinces. Developing international standards through the ITU allows China to translate this domestic operational expertise into a global technical language, ensuring that its architectural preferences become the industry standard for sustainable urban development.
Moving forward, the National Data Development Research Institute plans to collaborate with global stakeholders to refine technical specifications and promote pilot projects. The roadmap includes researching low-cost direct supply mechanisms for green power and building collaborative platforms for cross-border technological breakthroughs. The ultimate objective is to foster a global industrial ecosystem where computing power and energy systems function as a single, efficient, and market-ready organism.