China has unveiled a sweeping strategic roadmap designed to reshape its digital landscape, moving beyond the era of platform crackdowns toward a phase of state-orchestrated synergy. A joint directive from seven powerful agencies, including the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and the Cyberspace Administration of China, outlines a three-year plan to force a more collaborative relationship between the nation’s tech titans and its sprawling network of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). This 'Action Plan (2026–2028)' signals a shift in focus from consumer internet dominance to the development of 'new quality productive forces' that can bridge the digital and real-world economies.
At the heart of the initiative is a mandate for platform companies to open their proprietary ecosystems, sharing critical resources such as data, computing power, and advanced algorithms with smaller players. The policy specifically identifies generative AI, large language models (LLMs), and autonomous agents as the new frontiers for innovation. By 2028, the government aims to have established a series of 'openness lists' that compel tech giants to lower the barriers for SMEs to access high-end chips, next-generation operating systems, and smart terminals, effectively turning the platforms into infrastructure for broader industrial growth.
The document also underscores a strategic pivot toward global markets, encouraging a 'joint overseas' strategy where platforms and SMEs export Chinese digital services as a unified front. This ecosystem-based expansion is paired with a push for standardized compliance and the development of 'AI One Person Companies' (AI OPCs), reflecting a vision of a highly efficient, automated economy. By fostering 'Little Giants' and 'Single Champion' enterprises within these platform ecosystems, Beijing hopes to insulate its supply chain from external tech pressures while maintaining international competitiveness.
Furthermore, the plan integrates financial and human capital into the mix, urging platform firms to provide supply chain financing and specialized training for the SME workforce. The inclusion of the National Data Bureau among the signatories highlights the growing importance of data as a factor of production that must be circulated rather than hoarded. This coordinated push reflects the central government's desire to transition the tech sector from a source of regulatory headaches into a disciplined engine for national technological self-reliance.