Chinese President Xi Jinping has called for the establishment of a global organization to govern artificial intelligence, presenting the proposal to leaders at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit. The move signals a significant effort by Beijing to shape international norms for the rapidly advancing technology and position itself as a key player in global cooperation.
The proposal was a central theme of Xi's address in Gyeongju, South Korea, where he advocated for AI to be developed as a “public good for the international community.” This initiative comes amid heightened technological competition between China and the United States, which has so far resisted international regulatory bodies for AI.
Key Takeaways
- Chinese President Xi Jinping proposed a "World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization" at the APEC summit.
- The proposed body would aim to set governance rules and promote international cooperation on AI.
- The initiative contrasts with the United States' position, which has avoided international regulatory frameworks for AI.
- China also emphasized its leadership in green technologies and will host the 2026 APEC summit in Shenzhen.
A New Vision for AI Governance
President Xi's remarks detailed a vision for a centralized body dedicated to managing the future of artificial intelligence. According to statements published by the Xinhua news agency, he emphasized that AI holds immense potential for global development and must benefit all nations.
“Artificial intelligence is of great significance for future development and should be made for the benefit of people in all countries and regions,” Xi stated during the summit. The proposed organization would be tasked with creating a framework of governance rules and fostering collaborative projects among member nations.
“We could set governance rules and boost cooperation, making AI a public good for the international community.” - Xi Jinping, President of China
Chinese officials have previously suggested that Shanghai, a major commercial and technological hub, could serve as the headquarters for such an organization. This would place a critical new international institution on Chinese soil, further cementing its influence in global technology policy.
The Geopolitical Landscape of Technology
The announcement was made at a high-profile international forum where the United States had a notably reduced presence. U.S. President Donald Trump departed for Washington after a direct meeting with Xi and did not attend the main APEC leaders' summit. Analysts suggest this created an opportunity for China to advance its agenda on multilateral cooperation.
Xi's proposal for AI governance stands in contrast to the U.S. approach. Washington has generally rejected calls for binding international treaties or new global bodies to regulate AI, preferring more flexible, non-binding principles developed among like-minded allies.
What is APEC?
The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) is a regional economic forum established in 1989. It consists of 21 member economies in the Pacific Rim, which collectively account for approximately half of all global trade. APEC operates as a cooperative, multilateral economic and trade forum, promoting free trade and economic cooperation throughout the Asia-Pacific region.
The backdrop to this diplomatic push is the ongoing tech rivalry between the world's two largest economies. While Xi and Trump reached a one-year agreement to partially ease trade and technology controls, the underlying competition for technological supremacy continues. China's initiative can be seen as an effort to establish what it calls “algorithmic sovereignty,” reducing its reliance on Western technology and setting its own standards.
This is particularly relevant in the hardware sector. While U.S.-based companies like Nvidia produce the advanced chips essential for the current AI boom, Chinese developers such as DeepSeek are creating lower-cost AI models that align with Beijing's strategic goals.
Broader Economic and Green Initiatives
Beyond artificial intelligence, President Xi also used the APEC platform to advocate for China's leadership in other key industries. He urged member nations to support the “free circulation” of green technologies, a sector where Chinese companies have established a dominant global position, from solar panels to electric vehicle batteries.
China's Green Tech Dominance
China is a world leader in several green technology sectors. It accounts for over 75% of the world's battery cell production capacity for electric vehicles and is the leading producer of solar panels, manufacturing a significant majority of the global supply.
The APEC summit concluded with members approving a joint declaration that included pacts on addressing the challenges of AI and aging populations. These agreements reflect a growing consensus on the need for international cooperation on major societal and technological shifts.
Looking Ahead to Shenzhen 2026
Reinforcing its central role in the region's economic future, China was announced as the host of the 2026 APEC summit. The event will take place in Shenzhen, a city that embodies China's rapid economic transformation.
Xi highlighted the city's remarkable growth, noting it evolved from a small fishing village into a megacity of nearly 18 million people after becoming one of the country's first special economic zones in the 1980s. Today, Shenzhen is a global hub for high-tech manufacturing, including robotics and electric vehicles, making it a symbolic location for a summit focused on the future of technology and trade.
As nations grapple with the transformative power of artificial intelligence, China's proposal for a global governance body places it at the center of the debate. The coming years will reveal whether this vision for multilateral oversight gains traction or if a more fragmented, nation-centric approach to AI regulation will prevail.