Lingang Special Area Releases International Data Processing Hub Construction Plan to Promote High-quality Development of Data Service Industry

On August 15, 2025, the Lingang Special Area Administrative Committee, Shanghai Municipal Commission of Commerce, Shanghai Data Administration, and Shanghai Municipal Cyberspace Administration jointly issued the Construction Plan for the International Data Processing Hub in China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone Lingang Special Area (the “Plan”), with immediate effect.

The Plan proposes strengthening data cooperation with regions such as Hong Kong SAR of China, Europe, and Southeast Asia, promoting linkage with DEPA and CPTPP rules, and improving the innovative management system characterized by pre-entry access, in-process self-management, and post-event exemption from liability, as well as enhancing the data security management mechanism. It encourages the development of “Data Processing Upon Entry,” digital cultural exports, overseas data service platforms for enterprises, and supports the construction of international computing power resource scheduling and algorithm model platforms. The Plan calls for optimizing international data dedicated lines, data centers, and trusted circulation infrastructure, advancing the opening-up of value-added telecommunications services, improving the international data business arbitration and compliance service system, and cultivating international data service enterprises.