Chinese President Xi Jinping has positioned China as a crucial AI partner for the Global South, announcing plans to offer 5,000 AI training opportunities and expand cooperation with blocs like ASEAN and the African Union.
During the World AI Conference in Shanghai, Xi called for a “people-centered” and “secure and controllable” approach to AI governance, while cautioning against prioritizing national security interests over global collaboration. This initiative comes amid ongoing U.S. export controls on advanced technology to China.
Xi Jinping Positions China as AI Ally for Global South, Cautions Against Security Overreach
Key Points:
- China pledges 5,000 AI training opportunities for developing nations over five years.
- Beijing to expand AI cooperation with blocs like ASEAN, the African Union, and BRICS.
- Xi advocates for a people-centered approach to AI governance, emphasizing security and human control, while warning against prioritizing national security over global interests.
Pool | Getty Images News | Getty Images
In a significant move to bolster its global influence in the technology sector, Chinese President Xi Jinping has put forth China as a key partner for developing nations in the realm of artificial intelligence. Addressing the World AI Conference in Shanghai on Friday, Xi emphasized the importance of collaborative AI development and pledged substantial support for the Global South.
China announced it will offer 5,000 AI training and seminar opportunities to developing countries over the next five years. Furthermore, Beijing plans to expand its AI cooperation initiatives with major regional and international blocs, including the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the African Union, and BRICS.
"China is willing to work with all parties to seize and address the opportunities and challenges of artificial intelligence development with a more open attitude, more pragmatic actions, and a longer-term vision," Xi stated, according to a Google translation of his remarks delivered in Mandarin.
The Chinese leader described AI development not as a "solo performance" but as a "symphony of international cooperation," signaling China's readiness to engage more openly and proactively on the global AI stage.
These pronouncements follow closely on the heels of an agreement signed by 29 countries in Shanghai to establish the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization (WAICO), which will be headquartered in the city. The news was reported by Chinese state media outlet Xinhua.
Xi also underscored the need for heightened risk awareness in AI development, stressing that systems must be "secure and controllable" and "always remain under human control." He cautioned against the "overstretching the national security concept in the field of AI, or placing one country's security over that of others," a statement widely interpreted as a veiled reference to U.S. technology export controls.
The United States has progressively tightened restrictions on China's access to advanced technology, beginning with measures against companies like Huawei in 2019. More recently, the Biden administration introduced export controls in 2022 aimed at limiting China's access to advanced computing chips and semiconductor manufacturing capabilities, citing national security concerns.
These U.S. actions have had a significant impact on major technology firms. Nvidia, a leading chip manufacturer, reported in its annual report that it was effectively "foreclosed from competing in China's data center computing/compute market." The company noted that its inability to offer approved products in China had allowed competitors to strengthen their positions globally.
Despite these challenges, Chinese tech giants are pushing forward. At the conference, Huawei showcased its Atlas 950 SuperPoD supernode, a system designed to enhance computing power for large-scale data centers and AI model training, highlighting domestic innovation in response to international restrictions.
