China’s digital leap: Advancing at an annual rate of 30%, the country’s computing power scale currently ranks second worldwide. This significant achievement is attributed to extensive research and development efforts, championed by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), aimed at surmounting technological restrictions imposed by the United States.
Zhao Zhiguo, the Chief Engineer at MIIT, emphasized the vital role computing power plays as a new form of productivity in the digital economy era. The fast-paced growth in the country’s comprehensive supply of computing power, he noted, is a testament to this, with over one-third of the facilities located in central and western China. The robust infrastructure, boasting more than 100 trunk fiber-optic cables, provides an effective internet connection to these hub nodes, which facilitates the efficient utilization of computing power.
China’s continuously growing computing power resources are being employed in the development of an array of cutting-edge technologies. Large language models, semiconductors, and multi-dimensional heterogeneous computing technology have all seen major advancements. These strides have been instrumental in driving improvements in various fields, ranging from biomedicine, astronomy, and geography to autonomous driving and filmmaking. The advancements in these domains have enriched people’s lives significantly.
In light of the escalating demand for the development of general artificial intelligence, the MIIT, Zhao reassured, is committed to fostering the high-quality development of the country’s computing power. Their strategy encompasses three main pillars: infrastructure construction, key technology breakthroughs, and enhancement of its industrial application value.
Alongside these efforts, China has ramped up its focus on strengthening research and development in key products, such as CPUs, GPUs, and servers. This move aims at bolstering self-innovation capabilities in core technologies. Xie Cun, the Director-General of the Information and Communication Development Department of the MIIT, emphasized the necessity of fostering technological innovation. This innovation would be focused on computing architecture, computing methods, and algorithm advancements.
In the face of sanctions imposed by the US, which restrict Chinese companies’ access to US cloud computing services, the country’s drive to fortify its domestic technological innovation has become more critical than ever. China’s strategy to protect the security of its industrial chain relies heavily on this initiative. Ma Jihua, a seasoned industry analyst, further underscored the importance of computing power in the development of next-generation technologies.
KPMG China and Lenovo Group’s joint report shed light on China’s strong foundation for a progressively improving industrial chain. The report spotlighted active innovation, swift market growth, and burgeoning international competitiveness in the computing power field. Moreover, it is estimated that by 2025, China’s core computing power industry could potentially scale up to no less than 4.4 trillion yuan ($613 billion). Including related industries, the total scale could reach an impressive 24 trillion yuan.
As it stands, the Global Computing Index 2022-2023 positions China and the US as the top two frontrunners in the computing field. The MIIT’s intensified policy support for the development of computing power infrastructure and their planned initiatives signal a determined effort to sustain and further strengthen China’s position in the global computing arena.