China Unveils 2026–2030 Action Plan for Digital Rural Development

Chinese regulatory authorities, led by the Cyberspace Administration of China, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, and the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, have jointly released an action plan for digital rural development spanning 2026 to 2030. Covering the upcoming 15th Five-Year Plan period, the strategy sets eight core targets for 2030 and outlines 24 specific measures across five major areas, aiming to improve rural information infrastructure, digitize rural industries, and deploy smarter local governance systems.

As the overarching blueprint for rural digitalization during the 15th Five-Year Plan, this document establishes China's policy agenda for integrating modern digital infrastructure into the rural economy. It provides clear guidance for closing the urban-rural digital divide and accelerating the technological modernization of agriculture.

China has released a strategic action plan to steer the digitalization of its countryside over the latter half of the decade, outlining national priorities for expanding digital infrastructure, modernizing agriculture, and upgrading grassroots administration between 2026 and 2030. The "Action Plan for High-Quality Development of Digital Countryside (2026–2030)" was issued jointly by the Cyberspace Administration of China, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, and the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, according to an official statement by the cyberspace regulator. The document establishes the primary concepts, targets, and policy frameworks intended to govern rural digitalization during the 15th Five-Year Plan period. Under the newly announced roadmap, authorities aim to achieve noticeable progress in digital rural development by 2030. The strategy calls for optimizing rural new-type information infrastructure, significantly raising the level of rural industrial digitalization, advancing information integration in rural construction, and building smarter rural governance capabilities. It also emphasizes establishing sustainable mechanisms so rural residents can more equitably share the benefits of digital progress. The action plan sets eight main development targets to be reached by 2030 and organizes policy intervention into 24 specific measures spanning five focus areas. These five areas include consolidating the foundational infrastructure for rural digitalization, boosting digital adoption across rural industries, advancing informatization in rural construction, elevating smart rural governance, and fostering endogenous momentum for grassroots digital initiatives. According to the cyberspace regulator, the plan draws directly on the operational lessons of China's longstanding "Green Rural Revival Program," stressing the balance between development and security. The joint guidelines urge regional departments to align policies, pool resources effectively, adhere to pragmatic performance assessments, and adjust implementation strategies to suit diverse local conditions.