China Launches Global AI Governance Initiative at Belt and Road Forum
Beijing, China – In a significant move, China has unveiled the Global Artificial Intelligence (AI) Governance Initiative, signaling a commitment to an open, inclusive, and fair approach to the development, security, and governance of emerging AI technologies and services. The initiative’s announcement at the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation (BRF) comes amid growing concerns about the global regulation of artificial intelligence, with China offering an alternative vision to the restrictions and blockades imposed by the United States.
China’s President Xi Jinping, in a keynote speech during the opening ceremony of the BRF, revealed the launch of the Global AI Governance Initiative. This initiative encompasses various aspects of AI governance and emphasizes a people-centered approach, mutual respect, equality, and mutual benefit in AI development that benefits countries and regions.
The Cyberspace Administration of China emphasized the importance of respecting national sovereignty and adhering to laws when providing AI products and services to other countries. Additionally, the initiative discourages the use of AI technologies for manipulating public opinion, spreading disinformation, interfering in other countries’ internal affairs, and compromising the sovereignty of other states.
Furthermore, the initiative calls for the establishment of a testing and assessment system based on AI risk levels and the development of relevant laws, regulations, and rules to safeguard personal privacy and data security. It emphasizes fairness and non-discrimination in data collection, algorithm design, technology development, and product development and application, discouraging biases based on ethnicity, beliefs, nationalities, or gender.
China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson noted that the Global AI Governance Initiative presents a constructive approach to addressing universal concerns about AI development and governance. It aims to provide a framework for international discussions and rule-making, emphasizing China’s readiness for global cooperation in AI governance to benefit all of humanity.
Chinese experts point out that China’s cooperative and win-win approach to AI governance not only serves its own development but also fosters technological innovation for all Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) partners. Sun Yuzhong, a researcher at the Institute of Computing Technology at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, highlights the potential for promoting scientific and technological progress in various countries, rather than just China’s own advancement at the expense of others.
In contrast, while China emphasizes cooperation and inclusion, the United States has intensified unilateral restrictions on AI chips and other technologies. The U.S. recently tightened export restrictions on AI-related chips and semiconductor manufacturing equipment bound for China and added several Chinese entities to its export control “entity list.”
China’s response to these U.S. actions was firm, with the Chinese Commerce Ministry expressing strong opposition and deploring the U.S.’s abuse of export controls and unilateral tactics. China vowed to take all necessary measures to protect its legitimate rights and interests.
Beyond the U.S.’s actions, Western countries have been competing to establish the definitive rules for AI. However, these efforts have faced obstacles, as they often prioritize self-interest. This approach is seen as counterproductive for global AI governance, which should incorporate input from all countries and regions.
China’s approach stands in stark contrast to the West’s approach, emphasizing that all countries, regardless of their AI capabilities, should participate in setting the rules, rather than being mere spectators or following rules set by others. This cooperative stance aligns with China’s commitment to win-win cooperation, extending not only to traditional projects but also to technological development with all BRI partners.
With its growing technological capabilities, China is poised to play a greater role in promoting technological cooperation not only in Asia but also around the world. Kairat Sarybay, the secretary-general of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measure in Asia, envisions China’s contribution to economic and technological development through enhanced cooperation and exchanges.
As the Global AI Governance Initiative takes center stage, it exemplifies China’s vision for a more inclusive, cooperative, and mutually beneficial approach to artificial intelligence, setting a new path in the evolving landscape of AI regulation.
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