La Jornada: Leader in AI patents and digital economy

Fuzhou. China has become the largest holder of artificial intelligence (AI) patents in the world, concentrating 60 percent of the global total, according to the Digital China Development Report (2025) published by the National Data Administration (NDA) of the government led by Xi Jinping.

The report, presented at the main forum of the ninth Digital China Summit in the eastern province of Fujian, shows that the added value of the core industries of the digital economy is equivalent to more than 10.5 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP). The main AI industry has exceeded 1.2 trillion yuan (about 174.9 billion US dollars).

The report also notes that the Digital China Development Index reached 170.1 points in 2025, an increase of 12.99 percent year-on-year.

Remarkable progress has been made with the faster deployment of digital regulations and technologies, new application scenarios for data sets, the expansion of AI infrastructure, and a growing workforce of digital experts. Digital technologies are increasingly integrated into the economy, governance, culture, society and the environment.

The report shows that China has built more than 110 thousand high-quality data sets spanning healthcare, industry and education. 306 national green computing facilities were also established.

“The digital engine will play an even bigger role in driving industrial upgrades,” said Yu Ying, deputy director of the AND. “The National Development and Reform Commission and the National Data Administration will continue to work with all parties to advance the development of Digital China and build new engines for high-quality development,” he added.