China has created a group called "WDO".

Ask AI: How has the establishment of WDO changed the fragmented global data governance landscape?

A new international organization has been headquartered in Beijing.

On March 30, the World Data Organization (WDO) was officially established, with the English abbreviation “WDO.”

Image source: CCTV News.

When many people see WDO for the first time, they may think of the WTO. Although there is only one character difference, its backstory is no small matter—it is the world’s first specialized international organization dedicated to promoting data development and governance practices.

People wonder: what exactly does this organization do?

WDO’s mission is “to bridge the data divide, unlock the value of data, and foster a thriving digital economy.” Put plainly, it aims to break down barriers, build an ecosystem, and ensure that data dividends benefit the world.

Today, the wave of AI is sweeping across the globe. Data is no longer just a simple “string of numbers,” but has become a core production factor driving the operation of the global economy, just like oil and electricity in the industrial age. A McKinsey report once predicted that by 2025, cross-border data flows will contribute $1.1 trillion to global GDP, showing how significant its weight is.

However, the global data governance system has long remained in a state of “fragmented rules, high barriers, and uneven development.” Different countries have different standards; cross-border flows are obstructed; data dividends are severely split among different countries and groups. There is also a lack of a unified professional platform to coordinate rules and build consensus.

Zhu Keli, founder and president of the China Institute for New Economics Research, told Sanlihe that WDO has emerged in response to the times. It is both a natural outcome of the evolution of global digital civilization and a crucial move to solve the current governance dilemma. It marks a new stage in which global data governance moves from chaotic bargaining to systematic governance.

However, to ensure that this “new-era oil” truly delivers value, global coordination is indispensable—and that is precisely the core significance of WDO. It is not a “private domain” reserved for any single country; rather, it is a public platform for the world to discuss, build, and share, providing a useful basis for deepening international data cooperation and improving global data governance.

What is also worth noting is that this global organization ultimately chose to set up its “home” in Beijing.

Why Beijing?

The answer is actually very simple: China is a high ground for the digital economy and data governance, and Beijing is the “pinnacle” on top of that high ground.

Look at China: in 2024, China’s digital economy reached 59.2 trillion yuan, accounting for 43.8% of GDP. And as of the end of 2025, China’s number of internet users stood at 110k people, firmly ranking first in the world, with digital infrastructure and application scenarios among the global leaders.

Look at Beijing: in 2025, its added value from the digital economy exceeded 2.4 trillion yuan, nearly a 60% increase compared with 2020. In the 2025 global digital economy benchmark city index evaluation, Beijing ranked second in the world.

In Zhu Keli’s view, WDO’s headquarters being based in Beijing is the highest-level recognition from the international community of China’s strength in the digital economy and its governance capabilities.

WDO is not a niche organization that appeals to only a few. In fact, its “circle of friends” is quite large. So far, WDO has assembled more than 200 members, covering more than 40 countries worldwide. Members include diverse entities such as enterprises, universities and think tanks, international organizations, and financial institutions. A globally distributed and multi-stakeholder cooperative member ecosystem has already taken shape.

In Zhu Keli’s view, this vividly illustrates China’s sense of responsibility as a major country committed to openness and cooperation.

And this clearly contrasts with certain disorderly trends in the international community today.

In recent years, some countries have frequently “withdrawn from groups” or “decoupled,” adhering to unilateralism and treating international organizations as tools for geopolitical games, leaving the global governance system fractured. Meanwhile, China has quietly built platforms and forged consensus. Through practical actions such as WDO, it is creating a stable anchor for the world in the digital age and injecting stability into a turbulent world.

This “new group” of WDO not only builds a new framework for global data governance, but also helps the world see clearly: who is truly paving the way for common development, and who is adding obstacles to global cooperation.

“Sanlihe” Studio