China Unveils Dual AI Policies for Infrastructure

China has issued two coordinated policy documents aimed at accelerating its artificial intelligence development, marking a strategic shift from building scale to improving quality and foundational infrastructure. The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) released the “AI + Information and Communications” Innovation Development Implementation Opinion (2026–2028), while the State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) and the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) jointly published the AI Metrology System and Capability Building Guidance (2026 Edition).

According to Xinhua News, the MIIT opinion sets ambitious targets for integrating AI with information and communications technology (ICT) by 2028, including achieving internationally advanced intelligent operations, high-level self-intelligence in networks, and at least 30 high-value application scenarios. The plan also mandates that urban computing latency coverage reach no less than 75% within one millisecond.

A Shift from Scale to Quality

The companion AI Metrology Guidance, issued by SAMR and NDRC, addresses fundamental measurement challenges that have plagued AI development, including the “unmeasurable” problem of algorithm black boxes and the “data shortage” hindering reliable AI training. As reported by Xinhua, the guidance marks what analysts describe as a critical transition for China’s AI sector — moving beyond a focus on “building computing power and expanding scale” toward “improving quality and strengthening foundations.”

Su Deyue, writing in People’s Post and Telecommunications News, noted that the guidance “deploys key technology research on internal state monitoring and characterization of AI systems” to address pain points such as poor decision explainability. The framework targets 14 key application sectors, including smart manufacturing, smart healthcare, and smart transportation.

Key Targets and Technology Areas

The MIIT implementation opinion outlines 17 specific tasks across four major areas: intelligent upgrading of the ICT industry, strengthening the AI development foundation, deepening integrated application innovation, and enhancing ICT industry governance. Key technology areas include 5G-A/6G, next-generation optical networks, IPv6+, industrial internet, intelligent edge computing, high-end optoelectronic chips, and photonic devices.

By 2030, the plan envisions significant breakthroughs in core AI-ICT convergence technologies, with comprehensive collaborative innovation and industrial ecosystems in place. The SAMR official release emphasized that the metrology guidance would “establish unified ‘weights and measures’ standards for AI products,” creating a framework for AI product certification and quality assurance across the economy.

Strategic Context: The 15th Five-Year Plan

Both policies align with China’s 15th Five-Year Plan (2026–2030), which explicitly calls for fully implementing the “AI+” action strategy. This represents the next phase of China’s AI ambitions, which began with the 2017 New Generation Artificial Intelligence Development Plan (AIDP) that set a goal of becoming the world’s primary AI innovation center by 2030.

According to the SAMR, the metrology guidance “marks a key step in China’s AI field shifting from ‘building computing power, expanding scale’ to ‘improving quality, strengthening foundations,’” signaling a maturation of the country’s AI strategy.

Implications for Industry and Global Standards

The coordinated policy rollout has significant implications for both domestic industry and global technology competition. Chinese telecom operators — China Mobile, China Unicom, and China Telecom — along with equipment makers such as Huawei and ZTE, are expected to be direct beneficiaries as the MIIT opinion mandates AI integration into network equipment and operations.

The requirement for 75% urban computing latency coverage within one millisecond will drive substantial investment in edge computing and optical transport networks. By establishing its own metrology and standards framework, China also positions itself to influence international AI standards, potentially creating a competing standards ecosystem.

Challenges Ahead

Despite the ambitious targets, significant challenges remain. Coordinated execution across multiple ministries, enterprises, and research institutions will be required to meet the 2028 and 2030 milestones. Ongoing US-China technology tensions may complicate access to advanced chips and equipment needed for some targets. Additionally, the metrology guidance’s call for data sharing and breaking “industry data barriers” may conflict with China’s strict data security and privacy regulations.

What to Watch

Industry observers will be watching for specific budget allocations accompanying these policies, the timeline for publication of concrete standards under the metrology guidance, and how these initiatives interact with China’s existing AI regulations, including rules governing generative AI. The policies also raise questions about international reactions and potential partnerships as China seeks to shape global AI standards.

As the Xinhua report noted, by 2028, the goal is for “artificial intelligence and information communications to initially establish a mutually reinforcing innovation development pattern” — a vision that, if realized, could reshape both China’s digital economy and the global AI landscape.