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Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday unveiled China’s vision for a new global artificial intelligence (AI) order, positioning Beijing as a champion of open-source AI and a counterweight to US influence over the rapidly evolving technology.
Speaking at the opening of the World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) in Shanghai, Xi urged countries to seize the “historic opportunity” presented by open-source AI and pledged greater support for developing nations to build their AI capabilities.
Xi warned that unequal access to AI could create “new historical injustices” and called for broader international cooperation to ensure the technology benefits all countries.
The Chinese leader also promoted the proposed World AI Cooperation Organisation as a platform for global AI collaboration, offering an alternative to US-led initiatives aimed at shaping international AI governance.
His remarks come as Chinese open-weight AI models rapidly narrow the performance gap with leading US developers such as OpenAI and Anthropic.
Xi also made his first extended public comments on AI safety, stressing the need for balanced governance that promotes innovation while addressing potential risks.
The speech underscores China’s growing ambition to play a leading role in setting global AI standards amid intensifying technological competition with the United States.