Computing power, or the capacity of a computer to execute complex operations, has recently become a major engine for China's economic growth. Aspects of modern life, from space exploration, DNA sequencing, pharmaceutical research and weather forecasting to delivery and e-commerce, are all in some way related to computing power. According to data published by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the country's computing power sector has expanded at an average annual rate of 30 percent in recent years. 

In 2022, China launched a plan to expand the scope of domestic data centers by transferring computing resources from the country's more developed eastern provinces to the sparsely populated yet resource-rich western regions. The east-to-west transfer of computing power not only addresses the current imbalance between demand and supply, but also facilitates the coordinated development of different parts of the country.

Over the course of just one year, a bevy of data centers have mushroomed across the country's vast inland regions. Data have shown that over 5 million servers have been transferred to the western provinces.

On top of technological advancement, the ability to bring in tech gurus is another vital element for the growth of computing centers in western China. Therefore, local governments should devise attractive policies and improve basic infrastructure in these regions to create a more supportive environment for high-caliber tech staff.

(Oriental Outlook, June 1)