China has proposed a global action plan to regulate artificial intelligence (AI), following the United States’ release of its own plan to promote US dominance in the sector. Chinese Premier Li Qiang unveiled China’s vision for future AI oversight at the World AI Conference, highlighting the need for international coordination and broad consensus on AI governance.
Li’s remarks came amid ongoing trade tensions between the US and China, including restrictions on semiconductor exports that have caused a shortage in China. The Chinese leader warned that if countries engage in technological monopoly and controls, AI will become an exclusive game for a small number of countries and enterprises.
The US has invested significantly in AI research and development, with private investment reaching $109.1 billion in 2024, compared to China’s $9.3 billion. However, China is rapidly closing the gap, with massive government and private sector spending fueling its AI ambitions.
China has published more patents for generative AI inventions than all other countries combined since 2017, according to data from the World Intellectual Property Organization. The country’s technical capabilities were demonstrated by the launch of DeepSeek’s new AI model R1, which outpaced models by Meta and Anthropic, and Moonshot’s Kimi K2 model, which sent ripples in the AI community.
Experts have called for robust governance of AI to mitigate potential threats, including misinformation, deepfakes, and cybersecurity threats. Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt reiterated the need for international collaboration, emphasizing that the US and China should work together to ensure AI serves human welfare and social good.
The World AI Conference has become an important platform for Chinese companies to showcase their technology, attracting over 800 companies and featuring technology exhibitions, expert keynotes, and discussion panels. The event highlighted China’s growing AI capabilities and its ambitions to play a leading role in global governance of the sector.
Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2025/07/28/tech/china-global-ai-cooperation-organization-waic-hnk-spc