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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 monopolies” and restrictions, which he said could lead to AI becoming “an exclusive game for a few countries and companies”.
Li’s comments reflected the intense rivalry with the US over the technology, with Washington restricting exports to China of advanced semiconductors and the equipment used to make them, and pressuring allies to do the same.
China has still managed to make advances, with the release of a large language model by Hangzhou-based DeepSeek this year sparking a debate about whether the US can maintain its technological edge.
“We are willing to provide more Chinese solutions to the international community and contribute more Chinese wisdom to global artificial intelligence governance,” Li said on Saturday, adding that AI would be a new engine of growth.
He said China was especially eager to share technologies with countries in the global south to “make the achievements of AI development better benefit the world”.
China’s foreign ministry said it had invited high-level representatives from more than 40 countries and international organisations to attend the AI conference and exhibition, taking place over four days in Shanghai.
