The Big Data Expo 2025 officially commenced on August 28. During the opening ceremony, guests delivered keynote speeches that closely focused on the annual theme, "Data Drives Industrial Momentum, Intelligence Unlocks the Future," thus setting forth on an expansive journey into digital exploration.

Staff Commentator

Amidst Guizhou's picturesque landscapes, a data tide is surging. The China International Big Data Industry Expo 2025 (Big Data Expo 2025) officially opened during a season of potential harvest, with global attention once again converged on the "Data Valley of China." New and returning attendees gathered in colorful Guizhou and cool Guiyang, to discuss cooperation in digital economy development. By leading innovation trends, showcasing industry achievements, and promoting open collaboration, they worked together to draw a new blueprint for the high-quality development of the digital economy.

General Secretary Xi Jinping has consistently demonstrated profound concern for both the Big Data Expo and the development of Guizhou's digital economy, issuing pivotal instructions and directives on multiple occasions. At the critical initial phase of Guizhou's digital economy blueprint, the rationale behind the province's big data development was affirmed. Subsequently, during a crucial period when Guizhou's digital economy was poised for significant growth, congratulatory letters were sent to the Big Data Expo for two consecutive years, assigning Guizhou the important mission of capitalizing on new opportunities in implementing its digital economy strategy. Most recently, in March of this year, amidst a new stage focused on expanding the scope and enhancing the quality of Guizhou's digital economy, Xi personally visited Guizhou. During this visit, clear directives were given to strengthen and optimize the digital economy, thus charting the course and providing a significant boost to its development.

For eleven years, the Big Data Expo has closely followed national development strategies, addressed industry hotspots, and kept pace with the digital era. Each iteration has brought fresh innovation and enhanced impact, a vivid testament to Guizhou's profound commitment to the thoroughly studying and implementing Xi's important expositions on digital economy development, proactively seizing opportunities, and establishing a leading position in future growth. The Expo has witnessed the remarkable consolidation and flourishing of Guizhou's big data industry and digital economy. Currently, the global digital economy is transitioning into a new phase, centered on the marketization of data elements and driven by intelligent technologies. The Big Data Expo 2025, themed "Data Drives Industrial Momentum, Intelligence Unlocks the Future," aimed to comprehensively showcase the latest innovations integrating data elements and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies. It sought to promote the efficient aggregation and utilization of data resources, thereby providing a robust impetus for industrial transformation and high-quality economic development.

As the narrative of our era unfolds and development paradigms evolve, Guizhou's digital economy is gaining the upper hand. Guided by the guiding principles from Xi's important directives, the province has prioritized data center development to secure an early advantage and is now focusing on three key aspects of computing power empowerment for industry to capture new opportunities. In response to emerging circumstances and prospects, Guizhou is synchronously promoting the integration of computing power, data, applications, and industry. This effort aims to establish an innovation zone for digital economic development, rapidly generating distinctive comparative advantages. The province is committed to building a nationally leading computing power hub, extensively tapping into its immense data potential, fostering a diverse ecosystem of open applications, and cultivating a vibrant industrial landscape, thereby vigorously propelling its digital economy to flourish.

Navigating the digital surge, we are seizing the momentum to write a new chapter. We are confident that this Big Data Expo will further unleash its "magnetic effect" by cultivating new industrial drivers, opening up new investment spaces, and stimulating new consumer demands. Through the exchanges and interactions themed "Data Drives Industrial Momentum, Intelligence Unlocks the Future," the event is set to contribute wisdom and strength to fortifying and optimizing the digital economy.

Jiang Xiaojuan, Professor at the University of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and Director of the National Big Data Expert Advisory Committee:

Data is Crucial for Driving the Development of the Digital Economy and Fostering New Quality Productive Forces

During her keynote speech, Jiang Xiaojuan elucidated how data brings new growth drivers to industrial development and propels innovation to new heights. She further explored in depth the critical pathways and methodologies by which data plays a pivotal role in advancing the digital economy and nurturing new quality productive forces.

Addressing the question of why data drives the emergence of innovation paradigms in this era, Jiang explained that through the deep integration of digital and AI technologies, data not only provides knowledge support beyond human cognitive scope but also significantly boosts R&D efficiency. She emphasized that particularly when massive data is combined with sophisticated algorithms, humanity gains the ability to observe and resolve scientific challenges that were once beyond reach, thereby forging novel avenues for innovation.

To illustrate the tangible benefits of data empowerment, Jiang presented two case studies. In the medical sector, Parkinson's disease patients with brain implants previously required 4 to 5 annual hospital visits for adjustments, each session lasting 4 to 5 days and incurring costs of 2,000 to 3,000 yuan. Following the implementation of remote technical support solutions, significant optimizations were achieved in efficiency, convenience, and cost control. Similarly, in the cultural and tourism sector, which has seen a substantial increase in inbound visitors to China in recent years, digital platform-based, end-to-end solutions covering customer acquisition, service, payment, and personalized content delivery have dramatically boosted operational efficiency.

"From manufacturing to services, from consumption upgrading to international trade, and even to green and low-carbon transition, the digital economy is playing an all-encompassing, profound role, providing robust support for economic and social development," said Jiang Xiaojuan.

Looking ahead, Jiang called for the establishment of effective data-sharing mechanisms. She advocated for a dual approach: encouraging data-intensive enterprises to open up their data resources, and urging government departments to build sound incentive mechanisms aimed at vigorously addressing the bottlenecks and difficult issues hindering data circulation.

Joseph Olasunkanmi Tegbe, Director-General of the Nigeria-China Strategic Partnership (NCSP):

Looking forward to Making the Joint Contribution to the "Digital Silk Road" by China and Africa

"It is a great pleasure to be at this global platform where ideas, opportunities, and partners gather," Olasunkanmi Tegbe stated during his keynote speech. He highlighted that Africa is currently establishing itself as a new frontier for big data investment, and called for China and Africa to jointly build the "Digital Silk Road."

"As Africa's largest economy and most populous nation, with 220 million people, Nigeria is currently at a critical juncture of transformation," said Tegbe. He noted Nigeria's vibrant technology ecosystem and over 160 million digitally connected citizens. Furthermore, Tegbe highlighted that Nigeria has fully established comprehensive fiber optic infrastructure, which now extends nationwide through national backbone, metropolitan fiber, and "last-mile" networks, complemented by a robust presence of FinTech companies.

He argued that big data extends beyond servers or networks, focusing primarily on the data itself. This data, he explained, has the power to generate insights, shape policies, foster innovation, ensure corporate security, offer valuable intelligence, and reshape the landscape of governance.

Olasunkanmi Tegbe highly commended the significant role played by Chinese enterprises like Huawei and ZTE as pioneers in Nigeria, expressing his hope for a future where no country, region, or generation is left behind. He noted that China possesses distinct capabilities and advantages in big data infrastructure, cloud ecosystems, and digital governance. "I hope China and Nigeria can work together on the building of a 'Digital Silk Road' that enables the seamless flow of data, ideas, and solutions between our two regions, bringing shared prosperity to billions of people," Tegbe stated.

Yang Jie, Chairman of China Mobile Communications Group Co., Ltd.:

Activating the Potential of Data Elements and Accelerating the Formation of New Quality Productive Forces

In his keynote speech, Yang Jie stated that a new round of scientific and technological revolution and industrial transformation is rapidly advancing, with artificial intelligence (AI) achieving breakthrough progress. As human society accelerates its entry into the "AI Plus" era, the value and implications of data elements are continually evolving, primarily manifesting in three key areas.

Firstly, the scale and quality of data are emerging as a crucial catalyst for accelerating breakthroughs in AI innovation. As the dual scale effects of AI's technological capabilities and economic impact continue to unfold, the foundational and strategic role of data is becoming increasingly pronounced. New data sources, including industry data, interaction data, and synthetic data, are consistently driving AI's transformation from merely "functional" to "highly effective," further expediting the widespread deployment of applications such as AI-powered smart terminals, intelligent connected vehicles, and smart robots.

Secondly, the integrated application of data is proving to be a catalyst for new economic forms. Vast amounts of multi-dimensional data enable deep insights into user behavior, precisely guiding enterprises to optimize service offerings and efficiently meet personalized demands. This accelerates the rise of novel consumption models like the emotion economy and experience economy, thereby opening new avenues for economic growth.

Thirdly, the security and trustworthiness of data stand as the cornerstone for building a digital society. As new-generation information technologies become deeply integrated into society, the demand for robust data protection and privacy safeguards grows increasingly urgent. There is a critical need to establish a comprehensive, multi-dimensional data security governance system, further coordinating data development with security to effectively support the digital transformation of society as a whole.

"Going forward, China Mobile will work hand-in-hand with all parties to fully unleash the potential of data elements, thereby making new and greater contributions to accelerating the formation of new quality productive forces and comprehensively advancing the Chinese path to modernization," said Yang.

Zhang Ping'an, Executive Director of Huawei and CEO of Huawei Cloud Computing BU:

Building a "Black Land for Computing Power," Cultivating a Flourishing "AI Garden"

"Computing power is the foundational infrastructure for an intelligent world, and Huawei has been steadfast in establishing a 'black land for computing power'," stated Zhang Ping'an. He added that Huawei is building a unified national computing network centered around three core hubs, including Guizhou, while simultaneously developing a global network through overseas deployments. "In Guian, we have deployed China's largest AI computing cluster, serving customers nationwide and becoming a benchmark for the 'Eastern Data and Western Computing' initiative. We have also constructed resilient disaster recovery centers in Guian and Ulanqab to provide enterprises with high-performance, stable, and reliable computing services," Zhang elaborated.

According to Zhang, China's "black land for computing power" is increasingly becoming a global AI computing field for clients. He added, "Today, the overall scale of Huawei Cloud's computing power has increased by 250% compared to the same period last year. Enterprises across sectors such as internet, automotive, and manufacturing are utilizing Huawei Cloud to train their large models, deploy AI inference applications, and develop their own AI solutions." Zhang further advised that for companies aspiring to build a leading edge with AI in the future, embracing AI innovation with an AI-native mindset is crucial to further enhance efficiency, pioneer new business models, and capitalize on the opportunities presented by the intelligent age.

Zhu Qiuguo, Founder of DEEP Robotics

Empowering Embodied AI Development with Data

"Embodied AI is not simply a humanoid robot," explained Zhu Qiuguo. "Many large models we typically discuss have little direct connection to robotics. However, when large model technology is integrated with robotics, their intersection precisely defines embodied AI." He further clarified that "embodied AI is not synonymous with a robot; it is a physically embodied intelligent agent that continually interacts with its environment, influencing the physical world through perceptual learning and other means."

Embodied AI necessitates both a physical embodiment and the capacity for environmental perception to foster interaction, according to Zhu. He explained that the development of embodied intelligence is a comprehensive evolution across multiple disciplines, adding that it can only emerge when various fields, such as new energy, new materials, and big data technologies, have advanced to a new stage.

Zhu noted that their team currently uses human body data collection to enable humanoid robots to perform anthropomorphic actions. This process also incorporates perception capabilities and cameras to enhance autonomous decision-making, along with superimposed navigation paths to allow traversal in intricate environments. "Robot dog products equipped with these capabilities are already widely applied in areas such as power inspection, security patrolling, and emergency firefighting," Zhu stated. "We hope to leverage Guizhou and Guiyang's robust big data infrastructure to empower our robot dogs and robots in the future."

Dai Haiyan, Managing Director for LexisNexis Greater China, RELX:

Harnessing Data to Drive Scientific and Precise Decision-Making

"We are in an era where the digital economy is booming, and professional information analysis services are a vital component," stated Dai Haiyan. She further explained that these services harness data to drive scientific and precise decision-making.

Dai stated that the professional information analysis services market knows no national or regional borders, and she shared data application cases on site. "In North America, we merge users' physical and digital identities with behavioral data to create a unified identity view, thereby safeguarding financial transactions," Dai explained. This approach, she added, protects around 2 billion active accounts and thwarts 590 million fraudulent attacks annually. Moreover, by utilizing RELX's extensive repository of trusted content and data, close to 20 generative AI products have been developed across sectors like law, technology, medicine, and finance in a short space of time, empowering users to cut costs and boost efficiency.

Dai Haiyan underscored the future imperative to cultivate an effective market in the data sector, advocating for the adoption of market economy principles in its evolution and governance. She emphasized that AI, as the core engine of data value, is actively reshaping the data-to-decision pipeline. To transform data, likened to "crude oil," into strategic power fuel, enterprises must construct AI-powered, next-generation data architectures. "We are willing to partner with all parties to jointly advance the effective market for data elements, fully unleashing their economic and social value," Dai added.

He Long, Executive Vice President of BYD Co., Ltd. and Chairman of FinDreams Battery Co., Ltd.:

Developing Green Power is an "Unavoidable Imperative"

"Developing green power is no longer an option, but an unavoidable imperative facing the entire world," He Long stated.

He explained that BYD's GW-level large-capacity grid-forming energy storage power station solution not only provides stable power but also fulfills grid peak-shaving and frequency regulation demands. Furthermore, it boasts high power quality and strong inertia support, enabling it to act as a reliable regional power source, securing electricity safety for millions of households. Resource-wise, it significantly reduces standard coal consumption compared to thermal power. Environmentally, it leads to a substantial decrease in carbon dioxide emissions.

He Long projected that future large-scale pure green electricity bases, harnessing wind and solar power and combined with GW-level energy storage technology, will be able to deliver stable, high-quality green power via the grid to all power-hungry urban centers. He added that megawatt-scale fast-charging storage will allow electric vehicles to recharge as quickly as gasoline cars refuel. The creation of such an energy ecosystem, incorporating storage, will underpin the high-quality development of information and transportation networks.