China has called for enhanced international cooperation on the governance of artificial intelligence (AI), proposing the establishment of a world AI cooperation organization. The initiative was announced by Chinese Premier Li Qiang during the opening ceremony of the 2025 World AI Conference (WAIC) in Shanghai. The event, themed "Global Solidarity in the AI Era," gathered over 1,000 representatives from more than 40 countries.
Premier Li stressed the urgent need for the early formation of a global framework and rules with broad consensus to guide the development and use of AI. He noted that risks associated with AI, such as machine hallucinations, deep fakes, and AI proliferation, have aroused widespread attention. "There is an urgent need to further consolidate a societal consensus on how to achieve a balance between development and security in the AI sector," Li stated.
The calls for global AI cooperation come just days after the United States unveiled a low-regulation strategy titled “Winning the AI Race: America's AI Action Plan”. It includes over 90 federal policy actions designed to strengthen America's position as the global leader in AI development.
Hovever, China's proposal builds on the Global AI Governance Initiative (GAIGI) put forward by President Xi Jinping in 2023. China is tentatively considering establishing the new organization's headquarters in Shanghai. The initiative aims to promote an open, inclusive, and fair approach to AI development and governance, with a particular focus on bridging the digital divide for nations in the Global South.
Li emphasized the importance of open-source development to prevent AI from becoming the "exclusive game" of a few countries and companies. China is willing to undertake joint technical research with other countries and share open-source technology and products. The call comes as the US-China tech rivalry intensifies, with the US recently announcing a low-regulation strategy to boost AI innovation.
Vice-Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu said the initiative is a concrete action by China to promote multilateralism and respond to the calls of Global South nations. China is ready to discuss relevant arrangements with countries that are willing to join the organization. During the conference, a Global AI Governance Action Plan was also adopted, which calls on all parties to work in solidarity to advance AI development and governance.