Beijing, China – In a groundbreaking move, Chinese officials have revealed a comprehensive Three-Year Action Plan aimed at deploying metaverse technologies throughout critical sectors of the national economy. The collaborative effort involves key government bodies, including the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council, and the National Radio and Television Administration.
Scheduled to commence in 2023 and extend until 2025, the action plan signifies a strategic initiative to fully integrate the metaverse into various facets of the Chinese economy. The plan primarily emphasizes applications in cultural, educational, and entertainment industries, urging major players to incorporate metaverse technologies into their offerings.
Specifically, television stations, museums, and popular tourist destinations are encouraged to provide immersive experiences using virtual worlds for visitors and viewers. As part of the plan, museums across China will develop virtual reality (VR) tours, enhancing visitor engagement and building upon existing municipal initiatives.
Various provinces and cities across China have been independently unveiling blueprints for metaverse and non-fungible token (NFT) integration since 2022. Metaverse-centric plans have become a focal point for regions such as Beijing, Shanghai, Chongqing, Jiangsu, Sichuan, and Zhejiang, each aiming to attract global digital metaverse companies, support local firm incubation, and bolster the talent pool for service providers.
Notably, the three-year action plan marks the first instance of a unified metaverse strategy developed collaboratively by several crucial Chinese ministries. Observers interpret this move as a concerted effort by the government to introduce virtual worlds to the younger population, considered “the majority of the metaverse’s future residents,” according to Ji Zhihui, a metaverse industry expert.
Zang Zhipeng, an executive at the China Cultural Industry Association, commented, “It’s the first national-level policy to support the application of the metaverse.”
Simultaneously, China is positioning itself to set global standards for a regulatory framework in the metaverse. A report from China Mobile proposes the use of digital IDs containing essential participant information, aiming to assist law enforcement agencies in tracking and managing activities within the metaverse. However, these plans have faced criticism for drawing parallels with China’s social credit system, raising concerns about potential state surveillance implications.
