China Launches Free Public Access to Foreign-Language Versions of National Standards

BEIJING, April 20 — A new functional module for free full-text public access to foreign-language versions of national standards has recently been officially launched on China’s existing National Standard Information Public Service Platform. The system centrally releases 2,613 foreign-language versions of national standards, facilitating domestic and foreign enterprises and the public to find, understand and use Chinese standards conveniently.

Wei Hong, Director of the Department of Standardization Innovation of the State Administration for Market Regulation, stated that the first-time free full-text release of foreign-language versions of national standards can improve the convenience and timeliness of users’ access to standard texts. The versions released on the platform are all official translations of national standards, representing unified national-level rules.

China Daily reports that promoting the release of foreign-language versions of national standards is an important means to advance the integrated development of domestic and foreign trade, align with the Belt and Road Initiative, and strengthen the “soft connectivity” of rules and standards. As of the end of March this year, China has released a total of 2,613 foreign-language versions of national standards, covering more than 20 key fields including equipment manufacturing, foreign contracted projects, bulk commodities, information technology and new energy.

These foreign-language versions involve 11 languages such as English, Russian, French, German, Japanese, Khmer, Mongolian and Portuguese, serving as an authoritative and convenient channel for the international community to obtain Chinese standards. Wei Hong added that China has been focusing on industrial transformation, green development and intelligent application to promote the compilation of foreign-language standards in key areas.

For instance, the foreign-language version of the national standard “Earth-Moving Machinery — Pure Electric Hydraulic Excavators for Plateau Tunnels” can provide reusable safe, low-noise and low-carbon construction machinery application solutions for construction in internationally sensitive ecological areas. Wang Jianbo, Deputy Director of the Department of Market Construction of the Ministry of Commerce, noted that foreign-language national standards play a key role in promoting trade and investment facilitation.

Fan Hongzhu, Deputy Director of the Department of Standards and Quotas of the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development, cited the Astana Light Rail project in Kazakhstan — the first rail transit project in Central Asia fully built in accordance with Chinese standards — as an example, noting that Chinese engineering standards have effectively improved local engineering and construction technology.

Gong Yongjun, Deputy Director of the Department of Science and Technology of the Ministry of Transport, said that 195 foreign-language versions of national and industrial standards have been released in the transport sector, covering both traditional and emerging fields. Wei Hong emphasized that the State Administration for Market Regulation will further increase the compilation of foreign-language national standards, focusing on key areas to promote the overseas application of Chinese standards.