BEIJING - At the inaugural assembly of the World Data Organization (WDO) held in Beijing on Monday, Chinese Vice-Premier Ding Xuexiang read out a congratulatory message from President Xi Jinping and delivered a keynote speech.

Ding, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, said that the establishment of the WDO is a major event that aligns with the development trends of the intelligent era and deepens international data cooperation.

President Xi has sent a congratulatory message to mark the WDO's inauguration, which fully embodies his earnest expectations for the organization, Ding added.

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The vice-premier said that China supports the growth and development of the WDO, enabling it to play a role in bridging the data divide, unlocking the value of data, and powering the digital economy, thereby contributing to the joint efforts for a better digital future.

Noting that China attaches great importance to data governance and the development of the digital economy, Ding said the country has accelerated the development of fundamental systems such as data property rights, using data to drive industrial upgrading, improve people's well-being, and enhance governance efficiency.

He also said that China will further advance the building of Digital China, deepen the development and utilization of data resources, accelerate innovation in digital and intelligent technologies, and actively expand application scenarios, injecting strong impetus into the development of the global digital economy.

Ding called for taking the WDO's establishment as an opportunity to promote the improvement of global data governance and realize the sound development of the digital economy, and put forward three proposals.

Firstly, he called for leveraging the high mobility of data and promoting the efficient flow and use of data through openness and cooperation. Secondly, he stressed harnessing the high empowering potential of data and fostering common development through inclusive sharing. Thirdly, he called for leveraging the high sensitivity of data and safeguarding the bottom line of data security through coordinated governance.

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Around 500 people attended the inaugural assembly of the WDO, including representatives of the organization's members, Chinese and international scientists and technologists, government officials, and heads of international organizations.