China is entering a new stage of digital government development, steadily introducing artificial intelligence into public services and administrative processes. Over the past decade, the country has built extensive e-government infrastructure.

The objective now goes beyond digitalizing public services: it is to create responsive, precise and citizen-centered government powered by data and artificial intelligence.

This process is closely connected to the country’s long-term digital development policy, rather than a series of isolated decisions.

How did the idea of Digital China emerge?

China is building digital government through a comprehensive national strategy, rather than separate information systems or public service portals.

The Digital China initiative drives this approach, aiming to introduce digital technologies systematically into government, the economy and society.

Published in May 2025, the Digital China Action Plan marked a new phase of this policy. It identifies eight priorities, including widespread use of AI in government, development of a data market, expansion of computing capacity and rapid growth of the digital economy.

The plan envisaged the core digital economy sectors exceeding 10 percent of GDP and national computing capacity reaching more than 300 EFLOPS by the end of 2025.

In China, digital government means data-driven administration as well as electronic services. Data is therefore treated as a strategic resource. The National Data Administration was established, and improving data exchange between government agencies became a priority.

The logic is straightforward: if agencies work in isolation, even the most advanced AI cannot deliver the expected results. Effective AI first requires high-quality data, integrated information systems and unified digital infrastructure.

China is consequently developing digital government as a single ecosystem connecting data, infrastructure and artificial intelligence.

In 2025, China’s State Council Information Office (SCIO) reported that widespread use of AI in government and public services had entered a new phase. According to official information, several central and local agencies had begun deploying domestically developed large language models. These are used in citizen services, document workflows, analysis of public requests and preparation of government decisions (source: SCIO, 2025).

DeepSeek: a new digital assistant for government agencies

In early 2025, a new-generation AI model developed by China’s DeepSeek began gaining rapid adoption in both business and the public sector.

Some local agencies now use the model for the following tasks:

automatically sorting citizens’ requests;
quickly searching laws and regulations;
providing AI advice on public services;
preparing initial drafts of official letters and certificates;
summarizing analytical information;
quickly finding legal information for civil servants.

AI therefore acts as an intelligent assistant that accelerates decision-making, rather than making decisions independently.

Shenzhen: from a digital city to an AI city

Shenzhen, one of China’s most technologically advanced cities, has become a testing ground for AI in government.

In 2025, the city administration began integrating domestic AI models into public service platforms.

Today, AI helps to:

automatically answer questions about public services;
sort requests concerning licenses and permits;
automatically recommend relevant services to businesses;
provide intelligent internal search for government employees.

As a result, fewer routine questions require human intervention, allowing specialists to devote more time to complex matters.

12345: an intelligent system analyzing millions of requests

Almost every Chinese city has a unified 12345 public service that receives residents’ requests.

Previously, operators sorted these requests manually. In many regions, AI has now become an integral part of the process.

AI analyzes a request’s text to identify its subject, assign the appropriate agency, assess urgency, group similar requests and automatically detect recurring problems.

This enables government bodies to identify widespread systemic issues more quickly, as well as respond to individual complaints.

Artificial intelligence is not only for public-facing services

AI also improves the internal efficiency of the government apparatus.

Chinese agencies now use it to prepare meeting minutes, summarize reports, analyze large volumes of documents, identify discrepancies between legal texts and produce analytical information for management decisions.

Does artificial intelligence solve every problem?

It would be wrong to regard China’s digital government model as an ideal system. China’s own leadership acknowledges risks and limitations associated with using AI in public administration.

Above all, AI does not make independent decisions. It analyzes data, suggests options and advises civil servants. The final decision remains with a person.

This principle is essential because even advanced AI models can make mistakes, misinterpret information or produce unreliable answers. China therefore gives an important role to the Human in the Loop principle of maintaining human oversight.

However powerful AI may be, its effectiveness depends primarily on data quality.

If government agencies use different formats or their data is incompatible or outdated, AI will not produce correct results either.

China has therefore been reforming its government data management system as well as developing AI models. The establishment of the National Data Administration reflects this need.

A key lesson is that a digital state’s main asset is high-quality, reliable data, rather than algorithms.

Privacy and cybersecurity

Using AI in government makes data protection increasingly important.

AI systems process large volumes of information, increasing the requirements for personal data privacy, rules governing its use and cybersecurity.

Alongside AI development, China is therefore adopting regulations on data security, algorithm governance and generative AI services.

International recognition

In the United Nations’ 2024 E-Government Development Index (EGDI), China ranked 37th globally and 10th in Asia.

The significant rise in China’s EGDI performance is attributed to strategic policy, major investment in digital infrastructure and innovative initiatives. Programs such as Internet Plus systematically integrate internet technologies into traditional industries, improving service delivery and government administration. Investment in high-speed broadband, 5G networks and cloud computing ensures continuous connectivity. The country’s commitment to digital development is reflected in documents including the Action Plan for the Integration and Development of Virtual Reality and Industrial Applications for 2022–2026 and the 2023 Guiding Opinions on Promoting High-Quality Development of Cross-Border E-Commerce. The Cybersecurity Review Measures and the white paper on jointly building a community with a shared future in cyberspace also demonstrate the priority placed on cybersecurity and international digital cooperation.

China gives particular attention to the digital transformation of industry to stimulate new productive forces and stabilize economic growth. Rapid adoption of AI, big data and blockchain has significantly improved the efficiency, transparency and responsiveness of public services.

Public-private partnerships with major technology companies such as Alibaba, Tencent and Huawei have played a decisive role in developing and deploying digital government solutions. Inclusive policies aim to bridge the digital divide and extend digital opportunities to low-income and rural populations. A supportive regulatory framework encourages innovation and strengthens public trust in digital services while safeguarding data security and privacy. Together, these approaches underpin China’s strong digital transformation results.

Lessons from China’s experience

Countries differ in their legal systems, government structures, population sizes, economic resources and other circumstances. Simply copying another country’s experience is therefore neither feasible nor appropriate. This does not prevent others from drawing practical lessons from it.

China’s experience shows that building digital government cannot begin with artificial intelligence. Reliable digital infrastructure, seamless inter-agency data exchange, a sound legal foundation and an ecosystem of digital services must come first. AI is then introduced to strengthen that established system.

The success of a technology should be judged by the positive changes it brings to people’s lives. If digital technologies save citizens time, simplify public services and improve fairness and transparency in decision-making, they have fulfilled their purpose. Otherwise, even the most advanced AI will not deliver the expected results.

Source: egov.uz