Editor's note: Professor Chen Zhimin is vice president of Fudan University, Shanghai, and executive director of the Center for Global AI Innovative Governance (CGAIG). Officially launched at the opening ceremony of the 2025 World AI Conference (WAIC) and High-Level Meeting on Global AI Governance, the CGAIG serves as an international platform dedicated to research, dialogue, and collaboration on global AI innovative governance. The article reflects the author's opinions and not necessarily the views of CGTN.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is opening a new frontier for human development. Expanding humanity's ability to understand and reshape the world, it is a key driver of scientific and technological revolution as well as significant industrial transformation.

While AI presents unprecedented opportunities for development, it also brings risks and challenges, including security concerns, ethical dilemmas and technological divides. Therefore, determining how to promote innovative development, effectively prevent risks and deliver benefits to people in all countries in a fairer manner is a major issue facing the entire international community.

China has consistently advocated a people-centered approach to global AI governance and international cooperation, following the underlying principle of "AI for good." Upholding equality, mutual benefit and inclusive growth for all while balancing development and security imperatives, China has advanced new ideas and taken concrete steps to building a more open, inclusive, efficient and fairer global AI governance system.

Building global consensus on AI governance

China attaches great importance to the development and governance of AI, and has outlined its vision and approach to addressing shared challenges as the technology advances.

China is committed to multilateralism and promotes coordinated global governance. The international community still lacks consensus on major issues concerning global AI governance. Countries have different understandings regarding AI security, ethics and the boundaries of responsibility, and have yet to align governance rules and technical standards.

China proposed the Global AI Governance Initiative in 2023, outlining the principles of developing AI for good, ensuring security and controllability, and promoting inclusiveness and fairness. Calling for developing open, fair and efficient governing mechanisms, the initiative has provided systematic, practical and workable guidance for global AI governance.

China bridges gaps through capacity building and promotes inclusive development of AI. All countries should have equal rights to develop and use AI. Yet the global AI landscape remains uneven, with many developing countries, especially in the Global South, facing challenges in AI application and governance.

As a major AI-developing country, China has placed capacity building and technological inclusiveness at the center of its efforts to advance global AI governance. China has proposed initiatives including the AI Capacity-Building Action Plan for Good and for All and the AI+ International Cooperation Initiative.The country has also promoted the adoption of the first United Nations General Assembly resolution focused on AI capacity building, and played an active role in the establishment of the UN-supported Global AI Capacity-Building Network.

Through regular international exchanges and training programs, China is helping developing countries strengthen their capabilities and narrow the digital divide.

China promotes practical cooperation to improve the international AI governance and cooperation system. While a range of principles and initiatives regarding AI governance have been reached within the global community, greater efforts are needed to translate these shared visions into tangible actions. 

Through cooperation in areas such as AI development strategies, governance rules and technical standards, China seeks to offer AI-related public goods globally. The goal is to foster practical collaboration among nations and complement existing mechanisms with an enhanced global AI governance system.

Expanding shared opportunities through cooperation

China has consistently pursued AI development through an open and cooperative global vision.

The 2026 World AI Conference (WAIC) and High-Level Meeting on Global AI Governance will soon be held in Shanghai under the theme "Intelligent Partners, Co-create the Future." The event will bring together participants from around the world to showcase the latest advances in AI innovation, industrial applications and governance practices, while providing an important platform to exchange governance ideas and experiences.

The conference carries special significance as it takes place at the beginning of China's 15th Five-Year Plan (2026–2030) period. China aims to further promote the integration of technological and industrial innovation, advance and expand the AI+ Initiative, cultivate and strengthen the intelligent industry and empower high-quality economic and social development.

These efforts will contribute broader technological options, industrial opportunities and real-world applications to global AI innovation and cooperation.

Shanghai, a leading hub for AI development, has built a comprehensive AI industrial ecosystem supported by abundant research resources and extensive international networks, positioning the city as a key platform to facilitate global AI cooperation.

Since its launch at the opening ceremony of WAIC 2025, the Center for Global AI Innovative Governance (CGAIG) has worked to promote China's proposals on global AI governance and to advance practical cooperation in AI governance and international collaboration.

The United Nations-promoted Global Network of Centers for Exchange and Cooperation on AI Capacity Building was recently established at the World Trade Organization headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. As China's representative institution and one of the network's founding members, the CGAIG has worked to embed AI capacity-building expertise and international public goods into the network's institutional design and advance an inclusive, mutually beneficial vision for global AI cooperation.

As the world looks toward WAIC 2026, China is leveraging its innovative resources to promote inclusive and shared global AI development and unlock greater benefits from intelligent technologies.

Given the uncertainty and complexity of AI, it is essential for all parties to enhance mutual trust, build consensus, and promote the secure and reliable development.

China stands ready to work with the international community to address common challenges through cooperation, enhance common well-being through innovation and build a globally recognized AI governance framework.

Together, we can ensure that AI becomes an international public good that truly benefits humanity, enabling people around the world to share in the vast opportunities brought by this transformative technology.