Open-source software development took center stage at the Global Developers Conference (GDC) in Shanghai this Saturday. The event kicked off with impressive figures highlighting China’s growing influence in the global tech arena.
The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) reported that China now ranks second worldwide in the number of open-source contributors. The surge is fueling the rapid development of the artificial intelligence industry, with a growing number of high-quality open-source projects, large models, and communities emerging from the nation.
As of 2023, data from the MIIT shows that the number of software developers in China has surpassed 9.4 million. A separate report by the Cloud Computing Standards and Open Source Promotion Committee under the China Communications Standards Association revealed that Chinese projects now make up 17% of global open-source software, securing China’s position as the second-largest contributor globally.
In his keynote speech, Harry Shum, former Executive Vice President of Microsoft’s Artificial Intelligence and Research group and current chairman of the council at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, emphasized China’s evolving role. “With the open-sourcing of large models like DeepSeek, China has transitioned from a beneficiary to a significant contributor in the global open-source community,” he said. Shum expressed confidence that more Chinese teams will lead future innovations in open-source technology.
This year’s GDC, marking its second edition, aims to connect participants across various spectrums. The conference provides a platform for projects to secure funding, businesses to discover new markets, talent to join dynamic teams, and young individuals to find like-minded partners. By fostering resource alignment and industry integration among developers, the event underscores China’s expanding role in the global tech landscape.
