China has rejected US allegations that its artificial intelligence (AI) firms are "copying" American technology, calling instead for joint cooperation between the world's two major AI countries, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday.

Speaking at a regular press briefing, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said that China's AI progress stems from high-level scientific and technological self-reliance, and a consistent commitment to the principles of extensive consultation, joint contribution, shared benefits and open cooperation.

"We have always believed that all parties should strengthen cooperation to promote the open, inclusive, and beneficial development of AI for the good, and to serve the well-being of all humanity," she said.

Mao expressed hope that the US side can earnestly implement the important common understandings reached between the two heads of state, and refrain from making false accusations and smearing China.

"Both China and the United States are major artificial intelligence countries. The two sides should step up cooperation in this field," Mao said.

Washington has kept accusing Chinese AI firms of using model distillation, a standard technique widely employed across the industry to make systems smaller and cheaper, in an allegation that industry experts say is driven by strategic anxiety and is neither factually supported nor legally substantiated.