Cai Qi Gets a New Job - World Data Organization Chief on China's Data Governance Agenda - New Plan on Employment-First Strategy - Xi Heads to North Korea
Here are the key reports and articles from the People’s Daily’s edition on Monday, June 08, 2026.
There’s a fair bit to cover before I get to today’s edition. Saturday’s paper covered the meeting between Xi Jinping and Lao President Thongloun Sisoulith in Beijing. The report says that Xi congratulated Sisoulith on his re-election and called for promoting “a new leap forward in China-Laos relations.”
He made four specific points:
First, we must hold to the socialist direction. The two sides should jointly defend the socialist system and the ruling status of the Communist Party, maintain close strategic communication, carry out the two parties’ new five-year cooperation plan, and deepen exchanges on the experience of governing the party and the country. Taking the establishment of the two countries’ ‘3+3’ strategic dialogue mechanism for foreign affairs, defence, and public security as an opportunity, we should deepen law-enforcement and security cooperation and resolutely combat cross-border crime.
Second, we must build a solid foundation of mutually beneficial cooperation. China is willing to strengthen strategic alignment with Laos and expand growth points for cooperation. We should build on the advantages of the China-Laos Railway as a golden corridor to advance development along the line and the ‘one location, two inspections’ arrangement, and to upgrade the quality of cooperation on the China-Laos Economic Corridor. We should accelerate the rail connection between China, Laos, and Thailand, so as to achieve wider interconnectivity within the region at an early date. We should strengthen cooperation in traditional fields such as agriculture and electricity, and expand cooperation in emerging fields such as AI and the digital economy. China stands ready to continue providing Laos with assistance to the best of its ability.
Third, we must consolidate the traditional friendship between our peoples. Taking the ‘China-Laos Friendship Year’ as an opportunity, the two sides should expand cooperation in culture, education, health, and at the subnational level, tap deeply into ‘red’ resources, and enhance mutual understanding and affinity between the two peoples. China is willing to carry out talent-training programmes with Laos and to develop more ‘small but beautiful’ livelihood projects.
Fourth, we must strengthen the coordination of foreign policy. China appreciates that Laos has long adhered to the one-China principle, supported the four major global initiatives, actively participated in jointly building BRI, and has firmly supported China’s core interests and major concerns. We look forward to Laos playing a greater role in international and regional affairs. The two sides should engage in close multilateral collaboration and safeguard the common interests of the Global South.
第一，要坚持社会主义方向。双方要共同捍卫社会主义制度和共产党执政地位，保持密切战略沟通，执行好两党新的五年合作计划，深化治党治国经验交流。要以建立两国外交、国防、公安“3+3”战略对话机制为契机，深化执法安全合作，坚决打击跨境犯罪。第二，要筑牢互利合作基石。中方愿同老方加强战略对接，拓展合作增长点。要立足中老铁路黄金大通道优势，推进沿线开发和“一地两检”，推动中老经济走廊合作提质升级。要加快推进中老泰铁路联通，早日实现区域内更大范围互联互通。要加强农业、电力等传统领域合作，拓展人工智能、数字经济等新兴领域合作。中方愿继续为老方提供力所能及的帮助。第三，要巩固人民传统友好。双方要以今年“中老友好年”为契机，拓展文化、教育、卫生、地方等合作，深挖红色资源，增进两国人民相知相亲。中方愿同老方实施人才培训工程，打造更多“小而美”民生项目。第四，要加强对外政策协调。中方赞赏老方长期坚持一个中国原则，支持四大全球倡议，积极参与共建“一带一路”，坚定支持中国核心利益和重大关切。期待老方在国际和地区事务中发挥更大作用。双方要密切多边协作，维护全球南方共同利益.
Among other things, Thongloun reportedly said that “during this visit, he witnessed the tremendous development achievements China has made under the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. China has become the leading banner of the socialist system and of developing countries, and a mainstay in safeguarding world peace and promoting the construction of a multipolar world. China’s development has provided valuable experience that can be drawn upon by the broad developing world, including Laos.” 此访期间，我见证了中国在习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想指引下取得的巨大发展成就。中国已成为社会主义制度和发展中国家的引领旗帜，成为维护世界和平和推动构建多极世界的中流砥柱。中国的发展为包括老挝在内的广大发展中国家提供了可资借鉴的宝贵经验.
The two sides signed deals in “inter-party exchanges, people’s wellbeing, finance, customs, trade, youth exchanges and media.”
Also on Saturday, there was a report on Li Qiang leading a State Council executive meeting. The meeting:
adopted the 15th Five-Year Plan for Implementing the Employment-First Strategy
studied issues related to advancing new-type industrialization
examined matters concerning the development of future industries
adopted the Regulations on Promoting Employment and Entrepreneurship for Veterans (Draft)
“The meeting pointed out that employment is the foundation of people’s livelihood. It is necessary to take the implementation of the employment-first strategy as the guide, fully implement the policy of workers independently seeking employment, the market regulating employment, the government promoting employment, and encouraging entrepreneurship; strengthen the coordination of industry and employment; and continue to exert effort to expand the scale and improve the quality of employment, striving to achieve high-quality and full employment. It is necessary to improve employment promotion mechanisms, perfect the employment and entrepreneurship service system, broaden the channels for college graduates and other young people to find jobs and develop their talents, step up employment support for key groups, promote the healthy development of flexible employment and new forms of employment, and strengthen the protection of workers’ employment rights and interests. It is necessary to accelerate the cultivation and expansion of a modernized human resources workforce, improve the degree of matching between educational provision and talent demand, carry out large-scale vocational skills training in depth, and continuously enhance workers’ knowledge and skills.” 会议指出，就业是民生之本，要以实施就业优先战略为引领，全面贯彻劳动者自主就业、市场调节就业、政府促进就业和鼓励创业的方针，加强产业和就业协同，持续用力推动就业扩容提质，努力实现高质量充分就业。要健全就业促进机制，完善就业创业服务体系，拓展高校毕业生等青年就业成才渠道，加大重点群体就业支持力度，推动灵活就业、新就业形态健康发展，加强劳动者就业权益保障。要加快培育壮大现代化人力资源，提高教育供给与人才需求匹配度，深入开展大规模职业技能培训，持续提升劳动者知识技能.
“The meeting noted that advancing new-type industrialisation is a long-term strategic task. It is necessary to grasp the trends of the new round of scientific and technological revolution and industrial transformation, adhere to the directions of intelligence, greening, and integration, and coordinate the transformation and upgrading of traditional industries, the development and strengthening of emerging industries, and the forward-looking layout of future industries. Taking the development of a new generation of intelligent manufacturing as the main direction of effort, we must intensify the implementation of the industrial-foundation reconstruction project and the action for the high-quality development of key manufacturing industrial chains, accelerate breakthroughs in key core technologies, enhance the capacity to secure energy and resources, and strengthen the resilience and security of industrial chains. It is necessary to expand high-level opening and cooperation, implement well the catalogue of industries in which foreign investment is encouraged, and guide foreign capital toward greater investment in advanced manufacturing and producer services.” 会议指出，推进新型工业化是一项长期战略任务。要把握新一轮科技革命和产业变革趋势，坚持智能化、绿色化、融合化方向，统筹推进传统产业改造提升、新兴产业发展壮大、未来产业前瞻布局。要以发展新一代智能制造为主攻方向，加力实施产业基础再造工程、制造业重点产业链高质量发展行动，加快关键核心技术攻关，提升能源资源保障能力，增强产业链韧性和安全水平。要扩大高水平开放合作，实施好鼓励外商投资产业目录，引导外资更多投向先进制造业和生产性服务业.
“The meeting pointed out that, in light of the characteristics of future industries, it is necessary to further strengthen forward-looking planning and increase policy support so as to firmly grasp the initiative in development. It is necessary to consolidate the technological foundation, continuously increase investment in basic research, and systematically arrange efforts to tackle original and disruptive technologies. Attention should be paid to ecosystem building, promoting deep integration among industry, academia, research, and application, encouraging close cooperation between upstream and downstream firms in industrial chains, and fostering more start-ups and unicorn enterprises in key technological tracks. We must refine support policies, give play to the guiding role of government investment funds and the like, and establish mechanisms for increasing investment and sharing risk. We must guide a scientific and rational layout, improve regulation and governance, and prevent rushing in all at once and blindly following trends.” 会议指出，要根据未来产业特点，进一步加强前瞻布局、加大推动力度，牢牢把握发展主动权。要筑牢技术根基，持续增加基础研究投入，系统布局原创性、颠覆性技术攻关。要注重生态建设，推动产学研用深度融合，鼓励产业链上下游密切合作，在重点赛道培育更多初创企业和独角兽企业。要完善支持政策，发挥好政府投资基金等引导作用，建立投入增长和风险分担机制。要引导科学合理布局，完善监管治理，防止一哄而上、盲目跟风.
The meeting noted that we must combine inclusive benefits with preferential treatment, and adopt an approach that combines government promotion, market guidance, and social support to encourage and assist veterans in employment and entrepreneurship. It is necessary to strengthen guidance and services, provide support in areas such as educational subsidies, recruitment and hiring, and skills training, and form a synergy that promotes the employment and entrepreneurship of demobilised military personnel. 会议指出，要坚持普惠与优待叠加，采取政府推动、市场引导、社会支持相结合的方式，鼓励和扶持退役军人就业创业。要加强指导和服务，在教育资助、招录招聘、技能培训等方面予以支持，形成促进退役军人就业创业的合力.
Finally, there’s a report on the Central Party School holding a graduation ceremony on Friday for the second batch of graduates of the 2026 spring semester. The key point from this report is that we learned that Cai Qi is the president of the school.
My Note: Now, there’s been a lot of excitement around this. It’s obviously an important portfolio and that underscores Cai Qi’s political clout within the system today. He clearly commands Xi’s trust and occupies some of the most important Party positions. This level of concentration of authority under one member is quite remarkable.
The positions that Cai holds are:
First-Ranking Secretary of the CPC Secretariat. This ensures control over key Party institutions.
Director of the General Office of the CPC Central Committee. With this role, he commands administrative and informational authority..
President of the Central Party School. This lends leadership over shaping ideology and doctrine.
Vice Chairman of the Central National Security Commission. Under this, he plays a key coordinating function on national security issues.
But does all of this mean that he is heir apparent or winning the race to take over from Xi? I doubt it. Cai Qi is 70. So he’s anyway aged out if one thinks of norms. Also, why would Xi want a 71-year-old to take over from him in 2027, when Xi himself will be 73. So it’s not like the fellow is young enough to stay around long. Of course, the flip side of getting someone who is much older and isn’t likely to stay long is that their ambitions might be curtailed by age. A much younger successor is likely to be impatient in wanting to stamp their authority on the system, which could lead to the classic authoritarian succession dilemma.
Anyway, let’s now turn to today’s paper. On the front page, there’s a feature piece written as Xi Jinping begins a visit to North Korea. Some key points:
“Mutually dispatching special envoys, exchanging letters, exchanging congratulatory telegrams, exchanging oral messages… in recent years, General Secretary Xi Jinping and General Secretary Kim Jong Un have, through various forms, deeply exchanged views on major issues, mutually supported each other on issues of major concern to each side, and continuously consolidated mutual trust and built consensus.” 互派特使、互致信函、互致贺电、互致口信……近年来，习近平总书记和金正恩总书记通过多种形式就重大问题深入交换意见，在彼此重大关切问题上相互支持，不断夯实互信，凝聚共识.
“Facing an international situation in which transformation and turbulence are intertwined, China and DPRK bear missions on their shoulders and share connected destinies, jointly devoted to making important contributions to the well-being of the peoples of both countries and to world peace and stability. ‘On the Korean Peninsula issue, China has always upheld an objective and impartial position, and is willing to continue strengthening coordination with the DPRK side, doing its utmost to safeguard peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula.’ ‘We must accurately grasp the direction of the situation from a strategic height and long-term perspective, and earnestly safeguard peace and stability on the Peninsula’ … Whether at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing or at the Kumsusan State Guesthouse in Pyongyang, General Secretary Xi Jinping’s words were firm and his positions clear-cut, demonstrating China’s major-power responsibility in its commitment to maintaining regional peace and tranquility, and receiving high praise from the DPRK side and high acclaim from the international community.” 面对变乱交织的国际形势，中朝使命在肩、命运相连，共同致力于为两国人民福祉和世界和平稳定作出重要贡献。“在朝鲜半岛问题上，中方始终秉持客观公正立场，愿继续同朝方加强协调，尽力维护朝鲜半岛的和平稳定”“我们要从战略高度和长远角度来准确把握形势走向，切实维护半岛和平稳定”……无论是在北京人民大会堂，还是在平壤锦绣山迎宾馆，习近平总书记言语坚定、立场鲜明，展现中国致力于维护地区和平安宁的大国担当，受到朝方高度赞赏和国际社会高度评价.
At the end the piece says that:
“Since the start of this year, good news has kept coming on the resumption of rail and air links between China and the DPRK. From March 12, China-DPRK international passenger trains began running in both directions; just over half a month later, Air China resumed operating passenger flights between China and the DPRK, making personnel exchanges more convenient…The Guomenwan border-residents’ mutual-trade zone in Dandong has already welcomed more than 20 DPRK trading companies and corporate shops, and DPRK specialty products are very popular there. At the international commodity exhibitions held each year in Pyongyang in spring and autumn, the dazzling array of Chinese goods is much loved by local people. In early May this year, a new group of Chinese students arrived in Pyongyang to begin their studies at universities such as Kim Il Sung University; in February 2025, a DPRK delegation took part in the 9th Asian Winter Games held in Harbin … From connectivity to economic and trade exchanges, from youth interaction to sports cooperation, China-DPRK exchanges and cooperation in all fields continue to deepen and become more substantial, bringing more wellbeing to the peoples of both countries.
This year is the opening year of China’s 15th Five-Year Plan, and China is comprehensively advancing the building of socialist modernisation through high-quality development. The 9th Congress of the Workers’ Party of Korea was successfully convened in February this year, drawing up a new blueprint for the development of the DPRK’s socialist cause. ‘Strengthen communication and coordination at all levels, deepen inter-party exchanges and the mutual learning of experience in governance, and inherit and develop well the cause of our respective parties and countries.’ General Secretary Xi Jinping has stated on many occasions that he is willing to deepen the exchange and mutual learning of governance experience between the two parties with the DPRK side. General Secretary Kim Jong Un has also stressed that he is willing to carry out exchanges of experience with China in areas such as party-building and economic development, to help advance the DPRK’s party- and state-building cause. In recent years, party and government delegations from the two countries have made numerous friendly mutual visits, deepening inter-party exchanges and the mutual learning of governance experience, and propelling the socialist cause of both countries forward steadily and far.”
中朝是山水相连的友好邻邦，也是发展振兴路上守望相助的同行者。“双方要拓展务实合作，为两国人民带来更大福祉”“密切交往合作，携手推进中朝友好和两国社会主义事业”……“发展”“合作”是习近平总书记同金正恩总书记晤谈交流的高频词。今年以来，中朝间铁路、航空复通不断传来好消息：3月12日起，中朝国际旅客列车双向开行；半个多月后，国航中朝间客运航班恢复运营，人员往来更加便利。辽宁丹东火车站站台上，一列国际旅客列车缓缓停靠。中朝乘客携带行李，走下从平壤始发的跨境列车。一名从事对华贸易的朝鲜商会代表告诉记者，如今往返平壤、丹东两地十分方便，他返程时常常给亲戚朋友带上草莓、黄蚬子等丹东特产。位于丹东的国门湾边民互市贸易区已有20余家朝鲜商社、会社商铺入驻，朝鲜特色产品很受欢迎。每年春秋两季在平壤举行的国际商品展览会上，琳琅满目的中国商品深受当地民众喜爱。今年5月初，新一拨中国留学生抵达平壤，在金日成综合大学等高校开启留学生活；2025年2月，朝鲜代表团参加在哈尔滨举行的第九届亚冬会……从互联互通到经贸往来，从青年交往到体育合作，中朝各领域交流合作持续走深走实，为两国民众带来更多福祉。今年是中国“十五五”开局之年，中国正以高质量发展全面推进社会主义现代化建设。朝鲜劳动党第九次代表大会于今年2月胜利召开，为朝鲜社会主义事业发展擘画新蓝图。“加强各层次沟通和协调，深化党际交流和治国理政经验互鉴，把我们各自党和国家的事业继承好、发展好。”习近平总书记多次表示，愿同朝方深化两党治国理政经验交流互鉴。金正恩总书记也强调，愿同中方开展党的建设、经济发展等方面经验交流，助力朝鲜党和国家建设事业发展。近年来，两国党政代表团多次友好互访，深化党际交流和治国理政经验互鉴，推动两国社会主义事业行稳致远。“我们有伟大的友谊，我们有共同的理想，把我们团结得无比坚强。”正如《中朝友谊之歌》中表达的那样，站在继往开来的历史节点上，中朝双方不忘初心、携手前进，必将开启中朝友谊崭新篇章，共同开创两党两国关系的美好未来。
The only other bit from the paper that I’m covering today is this piece by Tan Tieniu on the theory page. Tan is the Party Secretary of Nanjing University and the Chairman of the World Data Organization. The World Data Organization was launched in Beijing in March this year. So, not surprisingly, the article focuses on global data governance.
The author argues that data has become “the core productive factor and important strategic resource supporting the development of the digital economy”. But “the pace of adjustment of the data governance system lags significantly behind the breakthrough advances in digital technology, and global data governance problems are becoming increasingly prominent, seriously constraining the full release of data value. To this end, it is necessary to improve global data governance, promote the building of a more fair, open, secure, and inclusive global data governance system…” 习近平总书记指出：“当今世界正在加速迈入智能时代，数据的基础资源作用和创新引擎作用日渐显现。”作为智能时代的“新石油”，数据日益成为支撑数字经济发展的核心生产要素和重要战略资源，正以前所未有的速度和规模重塑全球经济社会发展格局，深刻影响着世界的发展、安全、文明与治理。与之相较，数据治理体系的调整速度明显滞后于数字技术的突破性进展，全球数据治理问题日益凸显，严重制约了数据价值的充分释放。为此，要完善全球数据治理，推动构建更加公平、开放、安全、包容的全球数据治理体系，让数据红利更好造福各国人民.
The first section of the article then outlines the problem definition:
“In today’s era, promoting and protecting ‘digital development rights’ and opposing ‘digital exclusion’ have become core concerns of all countries, and the broad developing countries eagerly hope to enjoy equal rights of data access and fair rights of data utilization. Improving global data governance helps to break down the existing data barriers in international society, promote the open sharing of data resources, technological capabilities, and development opportunities across a broader scope, narrow the North-South digital divide, abandon ‘small yards, high fences’, guard against data hegemony and ‘data colonialism’, and promote all countries, especially developing countries, in enhancing their data utilization capacity and sharing the fruits of digital development.” 当今时代，促进和保护“数字发展权”、反对“数字排斥”已成为各国的核心关切，广大发展中国家期盼享有平等的数据获取权、公平的数据利用权。完善全球数据治理，有助于打破国际社会既有的数据藩篱，推动数据资源、技术能力和发展机会在更大范围开放共享，缩小南北数字差距，摈弃“小院高墙”，防范数据霸权和“数据殖民主义”，推动各国特别是发展中国家提升数据利用能力、共享数字发展成果.
Improving global data governance and establishing and improving an institutional system covering the full life cycle, including data sharing and exchange, security authentication, and compliance assessment, helps to activate global vitality in data use, create a trusted ecosystem for governments and enterprises of all countries to deepen transnational and cross-domain data cooperation and business coordination, thereby further optimizing global data resource allocation, breaking down barriers to cross-border data flows, accelerating data-driven integrated innovation, and mining data potential and creating data value to the greatest extent. 完善全球数据治理，建立健全涵盖数据共享交换、安全认证、合规评估等全生命周期的制度体系，有助于激活全球用数活力，为各国政府与企业深化跨国、跨领域数据合作与业务协同营造可信生态，从而进一步优化全球数据资源配置，破除数据跨境流动壁垒，加速数据驱动的融合创新，最大限度地挖掘数据潜能、创造数据价值.
Improving global data governance can use data flows to bring together flows of technology, talent, and capital, realising the global diffusion of knowledge. This helps reshape value-chain configurations and promote the leap of the global economy toward greater intelligence and integration. As big data and AI technologies and applications continue to innovate and iterate, the virtuous cycle and two-way empowerment of ‘using models to attract data’ and ‘using data to empower models’ have not only driven the optimization of business models and industrial forms, but have also encouraged the world to form a new balance around emerging anchors of digital-intelligent supply and demand, providing new momentum for the transformation of productive forces and healthy development of the digital economy in all countries. 完善全球数据治理，以数据流汇聚技术流、人才流、资金流，实现知识全球扩散，有助于重塑价值链布局，推动全球经济向智能化、一体化跃升。随着大数据、人工智能技术与应用的创新迭代，“以模引数”“用数赋模”的良性循环与双向赋能，既带动了商业模式与产业业态的优化，也促使全球在数智化供给与需求的新锚点形成再平衡，为各国生产力变革和数字经济健康发展提供了新动能.
As application scenarios continue to expand, the security risks of data leakage, misuse, tampering, and forgery in links such as cross-border transmission, storage, and application are increasingly intensifying. Improving global data governance helps to consolidate global consensus on data security, promote strengthened technological cooperation and experience sharing among countries, enhance the capacity for coordinated response to transnational data security risks, and promote the open, cooperative sharing of global data resources under the premise of security, compliance, and trustworthiness. 随着应用场景的持续拓展，数据在跨境传输、存储和应用等环节发生泄露、滥用、篡改、伪造等的安全风险日益加剧。完善全球数据治理，有助于凝聚全球数据安全共识，推动各国加强技术合作与经验共享，提升跨国数据安全风险的协同应对能力，促进全球数据资源在安全、合规、可信的前提下实现开放合作共享.
Global data governance is an important component of global governance. Improving global data governance helps to deeply implement the Global Governance Initiative, promote the extension of the global governance system into digital space, effectively fill the governance gaps in the digital domain, resolve prominent global governance problems such as the failure of data governance norms and the digital divide, further improve the global governance rule system, enrich the connotations of global governance, enhance the effectiveness of collaborative governance, eliminate the global governance deficit, and promote the development of the international order in a more just and reasonable direction. 全球数据治理是全球治理的重要组成部分。完善全球数据治理，有助于深入践行全球治理倡议，推动全球治理体系向数字空间延伸，有效填补数字领域治理空白，解决数据治理失范、数字鸿沟等全球治理突出问题，进一步完善全球治理规则体系、丰富全球治理内涵、提升协同治理效能，消除全球治理赤字，推动国际秩序朝着更加公正合理的方向发展.
The second section outlines the challenges facing global data governance. There are five broad points that are made:
Insufficient cooperation and exchange, and an absence of global governance consensus. Data governance concerns national sovereignty, technological innovation, market competition, and other matters, and countries are continuously engaged in a game between the open flow of data, sovereign control, and risk regulation. For example, the US attempts to maintain its position of digital hegemony under the guise of ‘digital freedom’, and the EU amplifies the ‘Brussels Effect’ through strict data legislation. Differentiated governance orientations have given rise to different circles of cooperation, further intensifying the fragmentation and imbalance of the global data governance landscape. 合作交流不充分，全球治理共识缺失。数据治理关乎国家主权、科技创新、市场竞争等，各国在数据的开放流动、主权控制、风险规制之间持续博弈。例如，美国以“数字自由”为名试图维持数字霸权地位，欧盟通过严格数据立法放大“布鲁塞尔效应”，差异化的治理取向催生了不同的合作圈层，全球数据治理格局的分化与失衡进一步加剧。
Incompatibility of rule systems, and high data compliance costs. As the global contest over data systems continues to intensify, the fragmentation of data rules deepens, multilateral coordination mechanisms are absent, and compliance barrier problems are prominent. At present, unilateralist mentality and ‘data colonialism’ are continuously reinforcing rule spillover and institutional confrontation, with countries generally using unilateral legislation, regional agreements, and digital alliances to safeguard their own rules and seek dominant advantages. Under the coexistence of multiple rule systems, enterprises entering different markets must cope with multiple sets of compliance requirements, repeatedly deploying compliance arrangements for data storage, cross-border transmission, internal sharing, external disclosure, and responses to regulatory reviews. As a result, the costs of cross-border operations and the risks of compliance friction are rising. 规则体系不兼容，数据合规成本高企。随着全球数据制度博弈持续加剧，数据规则碎片化加深，多边协调机制缺位，合规壁垒问题突出。当下，单边主义思维与“数据殖民主义”不断强化规则外溢与制度对抗，各国普遍借助单边立法、区域协定和数字同盟等方式维护自身规则、力求主导优势。在多元规则并行之下，企业进入不同市场时需要应对多套合规要求，重复部署数据存储、跨境传输、内部共享、外部披露和审查响应等合规安排，跨境经营成本与合规摩擦风险攀升.
Unbalanced resource allocation and worsening North-South development imbalance. Global data resources and value returns are highly concentrated in a small number of countries and leading enterprises, further entrenching the disadvantaged position of developing countries in capacity building and value distribution. The ‘digital North’ represented by the US, and a small number of multinational enterprises, rely on their advantages in technology, capital, and platforms to monopolize core links such as data collection, algorithm training, platform distribution, and value monetization, aggregating global data resources, obtaining high-value-added returns, and firmly controlling the right to formulate data rules. By contrast, the vast number of developing countries, constrained by shortcomings in infrastructure, capital and technology, and talent reserves, remain for long periods in the stages of raw data supply and low-value-added links, and can only passively adapt to external rules, with the North-South development imbalance continuing to worsen. 资源配置不均衡，南北发展失衡加剧。全球数据资源与价值收益高度集中于少数国家和头部企业，发展中国家在能力建设和价值分配中的弱势地位被进一步固化。以美国为代表的“数字北方”及少数跨国企业凭借技术、资本和平台优势，垄断数据采集、算法训练、平台分发和价值变现等核心链条，集聚全球数据资源，获取高附加值收益，并牢牢掌控数据规则制定权。相比之下，广大发展中国家受制于基础设施、资金技术和人才储备等短板，长期停留在原始数据供给和低附加值环节，只能被动适应外部规则，南北发展失衡持续加剧.
Inconvenient flow and sharing, and limited release of data value. The efficient aggregation, circulation, and collaborative utilization of global data resources face multiple obstacles, and the release of data value is significantly constrained. At present, the interoperability of cross-border data flows is markedly insufficient, and existing standards and technical specifications are unable to naturally form stable connections. In addition, under the influence of factors such as local regulation, platform closure, and commercial lock-in, there is a clear disconnect between the adoption of data standards, institutional arrangements, and coordinated implementation. As a result, it is impossible to achieve smooth aggregation, shared invocation, and continuous development of data across different countries, platforms, and scenarios. The scale effects, coordination effects, and value-added effects of data have not been fully realized.流动共享不便捷，数据价值释放有限。全球数据资源的高效汇聚、流通和协同利用面临多重障碍，数据价值释放受到明显制约。当前，数据跨境流动的互操作性显著不足，现有标准和技术规范难以自然形成稳定衔接，加之本地监管、平台封闭和商业锁定等多重因素影响，数据标准采用、制度安排与协同实施之间存在明显脱节，无法在不同国家、平台和场景之间实现顺畅汇聚、共享调用和持续开发，数据的规模效应、协同效应与增值效应未能得到充分释放.
Mismatched governance mechanisms and prominent data security risks. As data flows accelerate, platforms become deeply involved, and generative AI is widely deployed, the forms of data security risks continue to change, exhibiting the pronounced characteristics of cross-border diffusion and overlapping spillover. New types of risks such as algorithmic bias, deepfakes, model misuse, data contamination, and data poisoning are no longer confined to single links and entities, but are rapidly propagating globally along data, models, services, platforms, and supply chains, making the boundaries of responsibility, damage determination, and disposal chains increasingly complex. Existing governance mechanisms are built primarily on the foundation of traditional data protection and local regulation, and exhibit obvious lags in areas such as cross-border risk identification, responsibility allocation, coordinated disposal, evidence tracing, and rights remediation, making it difficult to effectively prevent, control, and respond to new types of data security risks. 治理机制不适配，数据安全风险凸显。随着数据流动加快、平台深度介入和生成式人工智能的广泛部署，数据安全风险形态持续变化，呈现跨境扩散和叠加外溢的显著特征。算法偏差、深度伪造、模型滥用、数据污染、数据投毒等新型风险不再局限于单一环节和主体，正沿着数据、模型、服务、平台和供应链在全球范围快速传导，致使责任边界、损害认定和处置链条更加复杂。现有治理机制主要建立在传统数据保护和本地监管基础上，在跨境风险识别、责任划分、协同处置、证据追溯和权益救济等方面存在明显滞后，难以有效防控和应对新型数据安全风险.
So what do we do about all this? The author argues that “facing the opportunities and challenges brought by the wave of digitalization, we must, with an open and inclusive global vision that embraces all of humanity, integrate the core essence of the concept of a community with a shared future for humanity into the basic principles of global data governance, persist in upholding a people-centered approach, persist in upholding open coordination, persist in upholding universal benefit and inclusiveness, and persist in upholding security as the foundation, so as to establish the value guidelines of global data order, consolidate the institutional guarantees of the global data ecosystem, promote the full release of global data dividends, hold firm to the bottom line of global data empowerment for good, anchor the correct course for further improving the global data governance landscape, and drive global data governance toward good and positive development.” 面对数字化浪潮带来的机遇与挑战，要以开放包容、胸怀天下的全球视野，将人类命运共同体理念的核心要义融入全球数据治理的基本原则，坚持以人为本、坚持开放协同、坚持普惠包容、坚持安全为基，树立全球数据秩序的价值遵循，夯实全球数据生态的制度保障，促进全球数据红利充分释放，守牢全球数据赋能的向善底线，为进一步完善全球数据治理格局锚定正确航向，推动全球数据治理向善向好发展.
He then makes six proposals.
My Note: These are significant because they outline a clear vision of what the author thinks should be done and what is probably feasible. I think there’s ambition in these but also a sense of pragmatism. For instance, he argues that it is important to appreciate the “objective reality of the interconnected and mutually dependent flows of data factors”, and as much has he is arguing for the UN and the World Data Organisation to be the key forums for data governance, there is clearly recognition that multilateralism is not going to work. Therefore, the author argues for the need to“continuously expand the network of global data cooperation partnerships, and enlarge the ‘circle of friends’ for data sharing and mutual benefit.” This is essentially Beijing’s policy of trying to create consensus among plurilateral and regional groupings and then pushing the cause at the UN.
Anyway, here are the six points.
Consolidate the broad global data governance consensus. Consolidating governance consensus is the foremost prerequisite for deepening global data cooperation. It is necessary to strengthen consensus around people-centeredness, openness and coordination, universal benefit and inclusiveness, and security for good; give full play to the roles of multilateral platforms such as the United Nations, and seek the greatest common denominator of global data governance. Through issuing joint statements, action plans, cooperation initiatives, and other means, it is necessary to continuously reinforce data governance consensus and accelerate the building of a new global data governance order in which all countries jointly deliberate on a data discourse system, jointly build a data trust ecosystem, and jointly share the dividends of data development. 广泛凝聚全球数据治理共识。凝聚治理共识是深化全球数据合作的首要前提。要增强以人为本、开放协同、普惠包容、安全向善的治理共识，充分发挥联合国等多边平台作用，寻求全球数据治理的最大公约数。通过发布联合声明、行动计划、合作倡议等方式，持续强化数据治理共识，加快构建各国共谋数据话语体系、共筑数据信任生态、共享数据开发红利的全球数据治理新秩序.
Build an efficient consultative mechanism for data governance. Efficient consultation is the key fulcrum for building new-type data relations. It is necessary to proceed from the objective reality of the interconnected and mutually dependent flows of data factors, respect the data governance traditions and autonomous development paths of all countries, continuously expand the network of global data cooperation partnerships, and enlarge the ‘circle of friends’ for data sharing and mutual benefit. It is essential to resolutely abandon the unilateralist thinking of ‘own country first’, oppose data closure and exclusive alliances, enhance the representativeness and inclusiveness of global data governance discourse expression, and accelerate the building of an open, coordinated, and efficient multilateral dialogue and consultation mechanism. 构建数据治理高效协商机制。高效协商是构建新型数据关系的关键支点。要立足数据要素流动关联、相互依存的客观现实，尊重各国数据治理传统与自主发展道路，持续拓展全球数据合作伙伴关系网络，扩大数据共享共赢“朋友圈”。坚决摒弃“本国优先”的单边主义思维，反对数据封闭和排他性联盟，提升全球数据治理话语表达的代表性与包容性，加快构建开放协同高效的多边对话协商机制.
Shape a sound ecosystem for the circulation of data factors. The efficient circulation of data factors is the driving source for data to empower development and activate value creation. It is necessary to strengthen strategic initiative in data governance, reinforce the responsibility of major powers, uphold a pragmatic action orientation, optimize the global cooperation layout, focus on major issues such as data infrastructure construction, digital-intelligence technology innovation, and the development of high-value data products, carry out in-depth multilevel global data cooperation; work forcefully to remedy the shortcomings in the data capabilities of developing countries, and jointly shape an open, inclusive, secure, cooperative, and non-discriminatory data circulation ecosystem. 塑造数据要素流通良好生态。数据要素的高效流通是数据赋能发展、激活价值创造的动力源泉。要增强数据治理的战略主动，强化大国责任担当，坚持务实行动导向，优化全球合作布局，聚焦数据基础设施建设、数智技术创新、高价值数据产品开发等重大议题，深入开展全球多层次数据合作，着力补齐发展中国家数据能力短板，合力塑造开放、包容、安全、合作、非歧视的数据流通生态.
Consolidate the cross-border data security guarantee system. Maintaining security and stability is the bottom-line requirement of global data governance. It is necessary to adapt to the new development trends of AI evolution, the deepening of cross-border data flows, and the reorganization of global supply chains, and drive data security governance to achieve the transformation from passive defense to active shaping, from unitary regulation to coordinated co-governance, and from static protection to dynamic guarantee. We must consolidate the combined force of global data security governance, coordinate the links of privacy protection, security technology, risk early warning, security review, and rapid response, improve the cross-border data cooperation guarantee system, and comprehensively consolidate the global data security foundation. 筑牢跨境数据安全保障体系。维护安全稳定是全球数据治理的底线要求。要顺应人工智能演进、数据跨境流动深化和全球供应链重组等发展新态势，推动数据安全治理实现从被动防御向主动塑造、从单一监管向协同共治、从静态防护向动态保障的转变。凝聚全球数据安全治理合力，统筹隐私保护、安全技术、风险预警、安全审查、快速响应等环节，健全跨境数据合作保障体系，全面夯实全球数据安全底座.
Advance the coordinated cultivation of global data talent. Cultivating innovative talent is a foundational undertaking for enhancing global data governance capacity. It is essential to closely align with the capacity needs of data compliance, data security, and data development and utilization, coordinate the resources of universities, research institutions, enterprises, international organizations, and industry platforms, improve the coordinated cultivation mechanism of production, education, research, and application, build an internationally coordinated cultivation system linking course co-construction, joint research, thematic training, and project practical training, accelerate the cultivation of compound talent possessing both technical application, governance competence, legal literacy, and international collaboration capabilities, and consolidate the talent foundation of global data governance. 推进全球数据人才协同培养。培养创新人才是提升全球数据治理能力的一项基础工程。要紧扣数据合规、数据安全、数据开发利用等能力需求，统筹高校、科研机构、企业、国际组织和行业平台资源，完善产学研用协同培养机制，构建课程共建、联合研究、专题培训、项目实训相衔接的国际协同培养体系，加快培养兼具技术应用、治理水平、法律素养和国际协作能力的复合型人才，筑牢全球数据治理的人才基础.
Fully leverage the platform role of the World Data Organization. The World Data Organization is an international organization and important platform for advancing the institutionalization and normalization of global data governance mechanisms. It is essential to establish a normalized mechanism for agenda-setting and thematic discussion, broadly gather the concerns of all parties, form working mechanisms for rule coordination, standard harmonization, research and development collaboration, and capacity advancement, promote the transformation of phased cooperation into more continuous and executable international cooperation arrangements, effectively convert platform advantages into capabilities for agenda organization, rule coordination, project undertaking, and public service, and accelerate the building of a new pattern of global data cooperation that is open, coordinated, and mutually beneficial.充分发挥世界数据组织平台作用。世界数据组织是推动全球数据治理机制化、常态化的国际组织和重要平台。要建立常态化议题设置和专题研讨机制，广泛汇聚各方关切，形成规则协调、标准协同、研发协作和能力协进等工作机制，推动将阶段性合作转化为更具连续性和执行力的国际合作安排，切实把平台优势转化为议题组织、规则协调、项目承接和公共服务能力，加快构建开放协同、互利共赢的全球数据合作新格局.