On January 27, Beijing announced its latest progress in its drive to become a global benchmark city for the digital economy in 2025. Data shows that over the past year, the city achieved systematic breakthroughs in key areas, including artificial intelligence (AI), digital-real economy integration, digital infrastructure, and data as a production factor.

Overall, the value added of Beijing's digital economy surpassed 2.4 trillion yuan in 2025, representing a year-on-year increase of 8.7 percent at current prices and accounting for 46.4 percent of the city's GDP. Specifically, the value added by core digital industries grew by 10.4 percent, accounting for 29.3 percent of GDP. Key sectors showed notably strong momentum: value added in electronic equipment manufacturers above the designated size rose by 20.2 percent year-on-year, while the information services sector grew by 11 percent.

On January 8, Knowledge Atlas Technology Co., Ltd. was officially listed on the Main Board of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, becoming the world's first listed company focused on large AI models. Beijing is intensifying its efforts to build itself into a leading AI city, with forward-looking plans for the embodied AI industry. Haidian District released the world's first open-source software framework for embodied AI and the "embodied brain" system, while Chaoyang District built the world's first training and competition venue for humanoid robots. The Beijing Economic-Technological Development Area launched Wise Kaiwu, a general-purpose embodied AI platform. Official data shows that 209 large AI models developed in Beijing have completed regulatory registration, accounting for nearly 30 percent of the national total.

The digital transformation of traditional industries continues to advance. The application rate of digital technologies among enterprises above the designated size citywide has increased from 40 percent in 2021 to 70 percent in 2024.

Smart manufacturing capabilities have been enhanced. By the end of 2025, Beijing had nurtured 19 excellence-level comprehensive factories and 178 advanced-level smart factories. The Xiaomi Smart Factory in Changping has achieved full-scale production, and the BAIC EV Stelato Mega Factory has been established in Miyun. Huairou District is focusing on developing high-end scientific instruments and equipment industries. In 2025, Beijing produced 699,000 new energy vehicles—a 140 percent increase year-on-year—while the output of integrated circuits and wind turbine generators both grew by more than 10 percent.

Digital healthcare services have become more accessible, with 119 internet hospitals established and 346 medical institutions offering online diagnosis and treatment services. Digital government services have also improved in terms of quality and efficiency. In 2025, public satisfaction with smart city development reached 82.8 points—the highest level recorded from 2021 to 2025.

Beijing's digital infrastructure has been further strengthened. The total number of 5G base stations reached 153,400—equivalent to 70 per 10,000 people—the highest level nationwide. Total computing power exceeded 60,000 PetaFLOPs, integrating resources across regions such as the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region and Inner Mongolia. The cumulative testing mileage for high-level autonomous driving surpassed 48 million kilometers, ranking first in the country.

To advance the aggregation and circulation of data as a production factor, Xicheng District is developing the China Data Street; the Daxing Airport Economic Zone is establishing an international data port; Shijingshan District is implementing a district-wide pilot program for digital RMB (e-CNY); and Shunyi District has been selected for the second batch of national pilot programs for the digital transformation of small and medium-sized enterprises.

(Source: Beijing Daily)