The PRC government is launching the metaverse development initiative for the next two years, instructing Beijing’s municipalities to develop and incorporate metaverse elements into tourism and education.
Beijing’s municipal government has announced the metaverse development plan for 2022-2024 to build a benchmark city for the digital economy. The city’s municipalities will track, develop, and integrate metaverse-related technological innovations into the education and tourism sectors.
The government’s initiative, titled Beijing Urban Sub-Center Metaverse Innovation and Development Action Plan (2022-2024), includes:
- developing and implementing digital education scenarios;
- supporting in-depth cooperation between metaverse-related technology companies;
- expanding intelligent and interactive online education models;
- developing digital platforms for educational institutions.
As part of promoting the metaverse sector, the main objectives for all urban municipalities over the next two years will be:
- supporting Beijing’s research institutes and related industry enterprises locally and internationally;
- participating in basic theoretical research related to the metaverse;
- developing technologies for the metaverse sector;
- popularizing technological innovations and achievements of the sector;
- introducing innovative resources in various fields.
The key areas of development will be virtual reality, artificial intelligence, blockchain, the Internet of Things, cloud computing, 5G, and information security.
The initiative from Beijing’s municipal government also highlights plans to track technology trends in the NFT area and create a sandbox to work out the future regulatory framework for the NFT sector.
Although China remains one of the most crypto-hostile countries in the world, its government has been actively using blockchain technology and continues to take active steps to widely deploy the digital yuan (CBDC).
