China’s NDRC Unveils Global AI Action Plan for Cross-Border Data

The National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) has officially released its Action Plan for AI Cooperation and Development, a comprehensive framework designed to harmonize international efforts in artificial intelligence and digital infrastructure. Published on July 17, 2026, the document outlines a strategy for enhancing global connectivity through the creation of trusted data spaces and the promotion of decentralized, open-source innovation. This move is expected to have significant implications for blockchain networks and decentralized physical infrastructure (DePIN) projects that facilitate secure data exchange.

Enhancing Cross-Border Data Flow and Infrastructure

A central pillar of the NDRC’s plan is the facilitation of cross-border data flow. The commission intends to build and operate cross-border trusted data spaces in specific jurisdictions to ensure that information transfer remains efficient, convenient, and secure. This initiative aligns with the growing demand for interoperability between international data systems. Furthermore, the plan emphasizes the development of intelligent computing facilities with a focus on:

• Collaborative construction of high-quality, multilingual corpora and industry datasets.
• The provision of inclusive intelligent computing services specifically tailored for developing countries.
• The integration of green energy-driven infrastructure to ensure low-carbon development for large-scale AI training.

By prioritizing green energy, the NDRC seeks to address the high energy consumption typically associated with Proof-of-Work (PoW) mechanisms and large-scale data centers.

Open-Source Innovation and Algorithmic Sharing

The Action Plan places heavy emphasis on the open-source movement, encouraging the establishment of international communities to share general large models, foundational algorithms, and essential tool components. This collaborative approach aims to lower the barrier to entry for AI innovation, allowing countries to conduct localized innovation based on shared open-source models. To manage potential risks, the NDRC calls for the joint development of:

The collaborative development of open-source compliance systems and security guidelines is essential to provide computing power support for the sustainable development of global AI.

This framework could provide a blueprint for decentralized AI (DeAI) protocols, which utilize distributed ledgers to verify the integrity of training datasets and ensure the transparency of algorithmic decision-making.

The NDRC’s Action Plan represents a structured effort to standardize the global AI landscape through infrastructure investment and open-source cooperation. By bridging the gap between intelligent computing power and sustainable energy, the plan sets a precedent for how future technological ecosystems—including those built on blockchain and smart contract technologies—might evolve within a regulated, international framework.