Chinese premier Li Qiang has proposed establishing an organisation to foster global cooperation on artificial intelligence, calling on countries to coordinate on the development and security of the fast-evolving technology, days after the US unveiled plans to deregulate the industry. Speaking at the annual World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) in Shanghai, Li called AI a new engine for growth, adding that governance is fragmented and emphasising the need for more coordination between countries to form a globally recognised framework for AI. Li warned Saturday that artificial intelligence development must be…
Month: July 2025
Africa looks to China as beneficial while US imposes tariffs, aid and visa cuts
The United States is losing ground to China for influence in Africa, according to analysts, as Beijing’s expansive trade policies and economic engagement outpace Washington’s increasingly restrictive approach. Advertisement The assessment came after China announced last month it would expand duty-free access for all taxable products for 53 African countries – all except eSwatini. Beijing’s move stands in stark contrast to Washington’s levying of trade tariffs, aid cuts and restrictive visa measures. The policy comes amid US threats to cut foreign aid by closing down USAID and imposing visa restrictions…
China proposes global body to advance artificial intelligence
Stay informed with free updates Simply sign up to the Artificial intelligence myFT Digest — delivered directly to your inbox. China has proposed creating a global co-operation organisation for artificial intelligence, as the country competes with the US for leadership in the technology. Speaking at the opening of the World Artificial Intelligence Conference in Shanghai on Saturday, China’s premier Li Qiang said AI innovation was hindered by “bottlenecks” such as the supply of computer chips and obstacles to talent exchange. Without explicitly mentioning the US, he took aim at “technological…
China’s nuclear power plans take step forward with fast reactor design
China’s state-owned nuclear power firm has unveiled the design for an advanced nuclear reactor that could mark a “crucial step” in the country’s plans to develop next-generation nuclear energy. Advertisement Named the CFR-1000, it will be China’s first commercial fourth-generation gigawatt-level fast neutron reactor. The facility is now awaiting approval and expected to become operational after 2030. Other major nuclear powers, including Russia and the United States, are also working on advanced reactors with the aim of developing a more fuel-efficient source of power. The China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC)…
China’s quant hedge funds stock up on talent – at US expense
Yuan Yu, founder of Shanghai-based quantitative hedge fund Mingshi, recognised an opportunity when several intern prospects studying in the US said they were struggling to complete their PhDs amid university funding cuts and stricter visa policies under President Donald Trump. Advertisement “They told us that their supervisor’s funding had been cut, so they couldn’t continue their studies,” said Yuan, whose investment firm manages US$2.5 billion in assets. “They felt lost and didn’t know what to do. This prompted us to consider extending our internship offers to full-time job offers.” By…
Chinese eyeing US degrees turn more discerning – is opportunity worth the risk?
Jason Lin of Xiamen surprised his mother this year by applying to 10 undergraduate schools in the United States and receiving a US$15,000 annual scholarship from Brandeis University near Boston. There, he intends to earn a master’s degree in economics over the next five years. Advertisement But to his mother, it’s like he’s venturing into the wild, compounding the anxiety parents often feel when their adult children leave the nest. She’s afraid of “instability” in the US. And Lin, 19, has concerns that even a traffic ticket could get him…
Monsoons claim hundreds of lives across South Asia
Stay informed with free updates Simply sign up to the Climate change myFT Digest — delivered directly to your inbox. Devastating monsoon rains in Pakistan have killed more than 250 people, destroyed crops and stranded thousands of tourists, as a large swath of south Asia suffers from extreme flooding. In parts of central and north-western India, continuous rainfall since June has also claimed an estimated 120 lives. Southern and western parts of China have been hit by mudslides, with urgent evacuations in southwestern Yunnan province, while a severe typhoon season…
Evacuees seek safety as Cambodia and Thailand clash
BANGKOK, Thailand — Evacuees fled by the thousands from the border of Thailand and Cambodia on Friday as the two countries’ militaries traded fire for a second day, an escalation in a long-running conflict that threatened to grow wider. Video: Fighting and evacuations continue in Thailand Cambodia conflictRocket attacks and shelling started near the Ta Muen Thom temple, which was also the flashpoint for the initial skirmish on Thursday. Clashes were reported in 12 locations, up from six on Thursday, according to Thailand’s military. More than 130,000 people have been…
Cracks widen in Japan and US’s interpretation of tariff trade deal
Unlock the Editor’s Digest for free Roula Khalaf, Editor of the FT, selects her favourite stories in this weekly newsletter. The US will secure 90 per cent of profits from joint investments with Japan only if it takes on a proportional amount of risk and financing, Tokyo said on Friday, as cracks widened in the two allies’ interpretation of their hastily agreed trade deal. Japanese officials said there was no written agreement with Washington — and no legally binding one would be drawn up — after Trump administration officials claimed…
Feud between former ‘god brothers’ fuels Thailand-Cambodia border conflict
Unlock the Editor’s Digest for free Roula Khalaf, Editor of the FT, selects her favourite stories in this weekly newsletter. For more than three decades, Thai political heavyweight Thaksin Shinawatra enjoyed close and warm ties with Cambodian strongman Hun Sen, with the two men even referring to each other as “god brothers”. Now that relationship has soured, fuelling clashes on the Thailand-Cambodia border that have claimed at least 15 lives and complicating efforts to bring the south-east Asian neighbours back from the brink of war. Thaksin, a former Thai prime…