China secured the second position in the Global Internet Development Index. The results underscored China and the United States as global frontrunners, with China closely trailing the U.S. in the ranking.
This was unveiled during the 2023 World Internet Conference (WIC) Wuzhen Summit, following the release of both the World Internet Development Report 2023 and China Internet Development Report 2023. These comprehensive reports evaluated key indicators of internet progress across 52 countries spanning five continents.
Other nations, including Singapore, the Netherlands, Finland, and Sweden, also distinguished themselves as leaders in internet development. The World Internet Development Report 2023 spotlighted the impactful role of China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), particularly the Digital Silk Road.
The report revealed a notable positive influence on the internet infrastructure of BRI partner countries, as 15 nations with lower internet development levels experienced accelerated progress.
Over the last decade, China has intensified its efforts to advance internet and technology development. The nation’s digital economy expanded from 11 trillion yuan ($151.07 billion) in 2012 to an impressive 50.2 trillion yuan in 2022, securing a global lead in various facets, including internet applications, user numbers, and advancements in artificial intelligence.
Furthermore, China unveiled the world’s largest and most sophisticated 5G high-speed mobile network, featuring 3.19 million deployed 5G base stations as of the end of September, according to a senior official from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology.
The nation’s internet sector is experiencing a thriving business landscape, evident in the remarkable rise in the number of listed internet companies from around 50 to nearly 160 over the past decade, as indicated by available data.