On July 26, 2025, Chinese Premier Li Qiang announced a comprehensive global AI action plan at the World AI Conference held in Shanghai, emphasizing the urgent need for international cooperation in the development, regulation, and governance of artificial intelligence technology.
China proposes the establishment of a global AI cooperation organization aimed at creating a framework with broad international consensus to guide the development and use of AI worldwide. Premier Li expressed that while AI is driving rapid progress in fields such as large language models, multimodal models, and embodied AI, it also brings significant risks and security challenges that require a balanced approach to foster both innovation and safety.
The plan highlights AI’s expanding role as a new growth engine, empowering industries and entering daily life, while advocating the idea that AI should serve as an international public good benefiting humanity. China is actively promoting multilateral and bilateral cooperation and intends to share its AI technologies and development experience, especially targeting capacity building in less developed countries and the Global South.
Premier Li called for open platforms for joint innovation, including sharing open-source AI products and jointly conducting technical research with other countries. This approach aims to make AI more universally accessible and to stimulate groundbreaking advancements through global collaboration.
China’s AI Industrial Strategy
China’s ambition to lead globally in AI by 2030 is supported by full-stack industrial policies that span from semiconductor chip production to AI applications. The government provides strong support in research, talent cultivation, subsidized computing power, and application development. This combination of public investment and vibrant private-sector innovation is boosting China’s AI industry competitiveness.
However, the country still faces challenges, including U.S.-led export restrictions limiting access to advanced AI chips and manufacturing equipment, which imposes constraints on AI development. Despite these hurdles, China’s AI sector continues to grow rapidly with applications in electric vehicles, robotics, healthcare, and biotechnology.
International Context and U.S.-China AI Race
China’s unveiling of its AI action plan closely follows the U.S. release of its own AI strategy, highlighting a global tech race. While China focuses on international cooperation, economic integration, and open-source development, the U.S. plan emphasizes reducing bias and enhancing export controls for AI technologies.
The contrasting approaches reflect broader geopolitical dynamics in AI governance, with China advocating for frameworks that include emerging economies and promoting AI as a global public good, and the U.S. primarily focusing on maintaining technological leadership and security.
Future AI Governance and Collaboration
The conference where the plan was announced saw more than 1,000 officials, academics, and industry representatives from China and abroad attending, underlining the significance of the occasion for global AI policy.
Premier Li stressed the importance of creating global consensus on AI governance to balance the benefits of innovation with the need to manage security risks. The plan calls for inclusive cooperation that ensures countries worldwide can access AI technologies and benefit equally.
China’s readiness to engage internationally and share advancements reinforces its strategy to position itself not only as a leader in AI innovation but also as a key architect of global AI norms and standards.
