China has proposed the establishment of a new international organization to manage global cooperation on artificial intelligence (AI), signaling its desire to lead in shaping the future of the technology and to counterbalance U.S. influence in the global AI landscape.
Chinese Premier Li Qiang unveiled the proposal on Saturday during his address at the World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) held in Shanghai. Li emphasized that the proposed international body would serve as a platform to promote inclusive development, equitable access, and collective risk management in AI advancement.
Without naming specific countries, Li criticized attempts by certain nations and tech corporations to monopolize AI development, warning against what he called the emergence of “an exclusive game” in the race to dominate the sector.
China’s Pitch for Equal Participation in AI
In his keynote speech, Premier Li asserted that AI should be a shared global asset, and that all countries — especially those in the Global South — should benefit from its development. He reiterated China’s willingness to collaborate broadly and to provide its AI experience, tools, and platforms to other nations.
“We advocate for open sharing of AI technologies, where every country and enterprise has equal rights to participate,” Li said. “China is open to sharing its experience, products, and platforms with others, particularly developing nations.”
Li’s message aligns with China’s strategy to position itself as a cooperative global player while framing Western nations — particularly the United States — as overly restrictive and self-serving in their approach to AI governance.
U.S. AI Strategy Prompts Beijing’s Countermove
China’s proposal follows closely on the heels of a major policy announcement by the United States aimed at strengthening its own AI ecosystem. Washington recently introduced a sweeping strategy to accelerate AI technology exports to allied countries in a bid to consolidate its global leadership and create a buffer against China’s rising influence.
As part of that initiative, the U.S. has tightened restrictions on the export of advanced semiconductors and chipmaking equipment to Chinese tech companies, citing national security concerns. Companies like Nvidia have been impacted by export controls that bar the sale of high-end AI chips to China.
Despite these restrictions, China continues to push forward with notable AI advancements, particularly in generative models, robotics, and intelligent surveillance systems — areas that have sparked increasing concern among U.S. lawmakers and policy experts.
Shanghai as the Hub for Global AI Governance?
As the Shanghai conference progressed, China’s Vice Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu chaired a roundtable discussion that included delegates from more than 30 countries, such as South Africa, Russia, Germany, South Korea, and Qatar. During the meeting, Ma announced that China was considering establishing the proposed international AI body’s headquarters in Shanghai.
Ma’s comments were reinforced by a statement from China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which unveiled a broader “Action Plan for Global AI Governance.” The plan calls for increased collaboration between governments, corporations, international institutions, and academic researchers to build a sustainable and inclusive regulatory environment for AI.
The initiative emphasizes open-source development, cross-border data flows, and technical standardization — elements China believes are essential for preventing technological fragmentation and regional power imbalances.
Beijing Acknowledges AI Industry Challenges
While outlining China’s ambitious vision for AI cooperation, Premier Li also addressed the hurdles facing the global AI industry. He pointed to ongoing chip shortages, limited access to core hardware, and talent gaps as critical challenges.
He urged the international community to close regulatory loopholes, harmonize legal frameworks, and prevent siloed development of AI systems across different countries and regions.
“Global AI governance remains disjointed,” Li warned. “We need to work together toward a consensus-based framework that can guide responsible and equitable development.”
China’s AI Vision Beyond U.S. Rivalry
The three-day AI summit in Shanghai is part of a broader push by Beijing to assert its influence in global tech governance. By proposing a multinational oversight body, China hopes to position itself as a cooperative and responsible actor in the international AI space, contrasting itself with what it portrays as a unilateral and restrictive U.S. approach.
Beijing’s push to internationalize AI governance also reflects its long-term ambition to shape emerging global norms, especially in critical technologies that are likely to define geopolitical power in the decades to come.
In doing so, China is not only seeking technical supremacy but also striving to shape the ethical and political frameworks through which AI technologies are developed and deployed.
Looking Ahead
Although no formal agreement was reached at the WAIC conference, China’s call for a global AI regulatory body has added momentum to the ongoing international conversation about responsible innovation, data ethics, and shared prosperity in the AI age.
The proposal will likely spark debate among global stakeholders, especially in the context of U.S.-China technological competition, data security concerns, and divergent views on digital governance.
Nonetheless, with AI’s rapid integration into economies and societies around the world, the idea of a centralized global institution to monitor its development may gain traction — especially among countries outside the traditional Western sphere that are eager to participate in the AI revolution on equal terms.
