China sets up National Data Group in Xiong'an; Jian Qin named chairman
In short
National Data Group Co., Ltd. (国家数据集团有限公司) was established on 20 October in the Xiong'an New Area in Hebei. It is a central enterprise focused on developing and using data resources, and Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang unveiled it at the founding meeting. Jian Qin (简勤), formerly of China Unicom, is chairman and Chen Ronghui (陈荣辉), formerly deputy head of the National Data Administration, is general manager.
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National Data Group Co., Ltd. (国家数据集团有限公司) was established on 20 October in the Xiong'an New Area, Hebei. Reports citing Xinhua and CCTV said it is a central enterprise whose main responsibility and business is data resource development and use, headquartered in Xiong'an. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 7 , 10 ]
According to the same reports, the group was set up to advance data resource development and use, release the value of data as a production factor, serve AI development and build up the data industry ecosystem. It is to work under the guidance of relevant departments, strengthen coordination between the central and local levels and deepen industrial cooperation. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 10 ]
The State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission said the formation was approved by the State Council. The commission performs the investor role on the State Council's behalf, and the group was added to the list of enterprises for which it does so. [ 9 , 13 , 18 ]
Ding Xuexiang, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Vice Premier of the State Council, attended the founding meeting and unveiled the company. He called its formation an important decision by the Party Central Committee, significant for seizing the opening in AI development, speeding up the building of a digital China and creating new national competitive advantages. He said the group should aim to become a world-class data technology enterprise, improve its governance, focus on its main business and carry Party leadership through its development. During the trip he also visited China Satellite Network Group and other sites in Xiong'an. [ 4 , 11 ]
People's Posts and Telecommunications News, cited by Jiemian and CLS, reported that Jian Qin (简勤) is the group's party secretary and chairman and Chen Ronghui (陈荣辉) is deputy party secretary and general manager. Jian was previously deputy party secretary and general manager of China Unicom; Chen was previously a party committee member and deputy director of the National Data Administration. Jiemian said the wholly state-owned company was funded by the State Council, the Xiong'an New Area management committee, China Telecom, China Unicom, China Mobile, State Grid and China Southern Power Grid. [ 14 , 15 , 23 ]
IT Home quoted Zhang Xianghong (张向宏), a member of the National Data Expert Advisory Committee, as saying the group will take on developing, integrating and operating national-level data resources. IT Home and Huxiu said the National Data Administration, which opened in October 2023, handles rules and coordination, while the group handles market operation. Huxiu said the group is the 28th entry in the central enterprise list and brings the number of central enterprises to 100. [ 6 , 23 ]
On 21 October a Jiemian market note said data-factor sectors did well, possibly because of the news. Taiji Co. said the news raised market attention to its related business but that it has no specific cooperation with the group, and that data-factor work made up about 2 percent of its first-half 2026 revenue. [ 25 , 27 , 28 ]
Why it matters
Ding Xuexiang described the group's creation as an important decision by the Party Central Committee and the State Council, tied to AI development and the building of a digital China. Outlets reported that data-related shares drew interest after the news, while a listed company said it has no specific cooperation with the group yet.
Key facts
- National Data Group Co., Ltd. was established on 20 October in the Xiong'an New Area, Hebei, with its headquarters there. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 7 , 10 ]
- It is a central enterprise whose main responsibility and business is data resource development and use. [ 1 , 2 , 7 , 10 ]
- The State Council approved the formation, and the State Council's State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission acts as investor on its behalf, according to an announcement of that commission. [ 9 , 13 , 18 ]
- Ding Xuexiang, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Vice Premier, attended the founding meeting and unveiled the company. [ 4 , 11 ]
- Jian Qin is party secretary and chairman; Chen Ronghui is deputy party secretary and general manager. [ 14 , 15 , 20 , 21 ]
- The wholly state-owned company was set up with funding from the State Council, the Xiong'an New Area management committee, China Telecom, China Unicom, China Mobile, State Grid and China Southern Power Grid. [ 14 , 23 , 25 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- National Data Group Co., Ltd. was established on 20 October in the Xiong'an New Area, Hebei, as a central enterprise focused on data resource development and use, with its headquarters in Xiong'an. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 7 , 10 ]
- The State Council approved the formation of the group, and the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission performs the investor role on its behalf. [ 9 , 12 , 13 , 18 ]
- Ding Xuexiang attended the founding meeting in Xiong'an and unveiled the company. [ 4 , 11 ]
- Jian Qin was named party secretary and chairman and Chen Ronghui deputy party secretary and general manager; Jian was previously at China Unicom and Chen at the National Data Administration. [ 14 , 15 , 20 , 21 , 23 ]
Still unclear
- Whether the group can build a workable business model. Huxiu said this depends on the first enterprises willing to pay for processed data, the first benefit-sharing plan between central and local bodies, and products that work; no other document addresses it.
- How the group will work alongside local data groups. Huxiu said local authorisation arrangements and interests already exist and the boundary between cooperation and competition is more complex; officially, the arrangement is described as central-local coordination.
- The group's specific business lines. IT Home said the main lines are expected to cover data infrastructure, public data authorised operation, industry data development and data trading; this is IT Home's expectation, not an announced list.
- Whether the group's formation drove moves in related shares. Jiemian's market note said data-factor sectors did well on 21 October, possibly due to the news; Taiji Co. (太极股份) said the news raised market attention but it has no specific cooperation with the group.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- CLS and Yicai published the first reports, citing Xinhua and CCTV, that the group was established in Xiong'an on 20 October. [ 1 , 2 ]
- CLS reported that Ding Xuexiang attended the founding meeting and unveiled the company. [ 4 ]
- CLS reported the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission announcement on the formation of the group. [ 9 ]
- Jiemian reported that Jian Qin was named chairman and Chen Ronghui general manager, citing People's Posts and Telecommunications News. [ 14 ]
- On 21 October, Taiji Co. said it has no specific cooperation with the group. [ 27 , 28 ]