Chinese President Xi Jinping praised China's progress in developing low-cost artificial intelligence and pledged to make it available to everyone.
This came during a speech delivered by the Chinese President at the opening ceremony of the World Artificial Intelligence Conference 2026 and the High-Level Meeting on Global AI Governance.
Xi urged the world to adopt a comprehensive approach, promoting cooperation without competition, and said: "The development of artificial intelligence should not be the solitary work of one country, but a symphony of international cooperation," adding that security risks must be contained.
He also praised the establishment of the China-led Global AI Cooperation Organisation, calling it a "significant milestone" after 29 countries, including Russia and Brazil, signed an agreement to join the organization late Thursday, a year after it was first proposed by Premier Li Qiang.
Shi raises four points regarding the development and governance of artificial intelligence.
The Chinese president also made four remarks on the development and governance of artificial intelligence, namely:
First, adherence to the principle of openness and win-win cooperation while promoting innovation-led development. Xi stressed the importance of encouraging open sources, openness, cooperation, and sharing, which contribute to promoting technological innovation, industrial development, and the application of artificial intelligence in various scenarios.
Second, it is crucial to raise awareness of the risks and ensure the security and controllability of artificial intelligence. Xi stressed the need to ensure that AI remains under human control, urging all parties to oppose the excessive expansion of the concept of national security in the field of AI or prioritizing one country's security at the expense of others.
Third, promoting inclusivity and fostering mutual learning among civilizations. Xi Jinping emphasized that the development of artificial intelligence and its applications should not erode or undermine the diversity of world civilizations or the unique cultural characteristics of different countries.
Fourth, the call for solidarity and improved global governance. Xi stressed the need to recognize the important role of the United Nations, calling for greater harmonization and coordination on AI development strategies, governance rules, and technical standards.
Chinese President Xi Jinping stated that the world has entered an unprecedentedly active period of innovation in artificial intelligence technologies, creating great opportunities and posing governance challenges.
Xi raised questions about how humans can coexist with thinking machines, how security can be ensured when algorithms are involved in decision-making, how the ethical challenges posed by technologies can be addressed through adaptive governance, and how artificial intelligence can be made accessible to all in light of the widening gap.
China is looking to build its own AI ecosystem, offering its citizens and global customers a cheaper alternative to American technology. It also wants to secure its own AI supply chain, which could guarantee access for its companies and government agencies.
As part of this strategy, Beijing has allocated 2 trillion yuan over the next five years to create a network of interconnected data centers across the country, Bloomberg reported last month.
