China urges global consensus on balancing AI development, security
His remarks came just days after US President Donald Trump unveiled an aggressive low-regulation strategy aimed at cementing US dominance in the fast-moving field, promising to "remove red tape and onerous regulation" that could hinder private sector AI development.
Opening the World AI Conference in Shanghai on Saturday, Li emphasized the need for governance and open-source development, announcing the establishment of a Chinese-led body for international AI cooperation.
"The risks and challenges brought by artificial intelligence have drawn widespread attention. ... How to find a balance between development and security urgently requires further consensus from the entire society," the premier said.
He gave no further details about the newly announced organization, though state media later reported "the preliminary consideration" was that it would be headquartered in Shanghai.
The organization would "promote global governance featuring extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits," state news agency Xinhua reported, without elaborating on its set-up or mechanisms.
At a time when AI is being integrated across virtually all industries, its uses have raised major questions, including about the spread of misinformation, its impact on employment and the potential loss of technological control.
In a speech at WAIC on Saturday, Nobel Prize-winning physicist Geoffrey Hinton compared the situation to keeping "a very cute tiger cub as a pet."
To survive, he said, you need to ensure you can train it not to kill you when it grows up.
The enormous strides AI technology has made in recent years have seen it move to the forefront of the US-China rivalry.
Premier Li said China would "actively promote" the development of open-source AI, adding Beijing was willing to share advances with other countries, particularly developing ones.
"If we engage in technological monopolies, controls and blockage, artificial intelligence will become the preserve of a few countries and a few enterprises," he said.
Vice Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu warned against "unilateralism and protectionism" at a later meeting.
Washington has expanded its efforts in recent years to curb exports of state-of-the-art chips to China, concerned that they can be used to advance Beijing's military systems and erode US tech dominance.
Li, in his speech, highlighted "insufficient supply of computing power and chips" as a bottleneck to AI progress.
China has made AI a pillar of its plans for technological self-reliance, with the government pledging a raft of measures to boost the sector.
In January, Chinese startup DeepSeek unveiled an AI model that performed as well as top US systems despite using less powerful chips.
In a video message played at the WAIC opening ceremony, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said AI governance would be "a defining test of international cooperation."
The ceremony saw the French president's AI envoy, Anne Bouverot, underscore "an urgent need" for global action and for the United Nations to play a "leading role."
Bouverot called for a framework "that is open, transparent and effective, giving each and every one an opportunity to have their views taken into account."
Li's speech "posed a clear contrast to the Trump administration's 'America First' view on AI" and the US measures announced last week, said WAIC attendee George Chen, a partner at Washington-based policy consultancy The Asia Group.
"The world is now clearly divided into at least three camps: the United States and its allies, China (and perhaps many Belt and Road or Global South countries), and the EU -- which prefers regulating AI through legislation, like the EU AI Act," Chen told Agence France-Presse.
At an AI summit in Paris in February, 58 countries including China, France and India -- as well as the European Union and African Union Commission -- called for enhanced coordination on AI governance.
But the United States warned against "excessive regulation," and alongside the United Kingdom, refused to sign the summit's appeal for an "open," "inclusive" and "ethical" AI.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Korea Herald
6 hours ago
- Korea Herald
Russia to launch first Moscow-Pyongyang direct flights in decades: report
Russia was set to start operating direct passenger flights between Moscow and North Korea's Pyongyang for the first time in about three decades, Reuters reported Sunday. The inaugural flight, operated by Nordwind Airlines, is scheduled to depart from Sheremetyevo Airport in Moscow at 7 p.m. (local time), marking the first regular air connection between the two capitals since the mid-1990s, Reuters said, citing Russia's RIA state news agency. The eight-hour flight will be operated by a Boeing 777-200ER with a seating capacity of 440 passengers, Reuters said, adding that tickets started at US$563 and the first flight quickly sold out. Russia's civil aviation authority, Rosaviatsia, has granted Nordwind Airlines permission to operate flights of the route twice a week, though the schedule will begin with one flight per month for now "to help build stable demand," the report said. Until now, the only direct air route between the two nations was Air Koryo's service from Pyongyang to Vladivostok in Russia's Far East three times a week. The move came as the two countries have sought to strengthen bilateral ties following Russia's war with Ukraine in 2022. In June, the two nations also resumed passenger rail service between Moscow and Pyongyang.
Korea Herald
14 hours ago
- Korea Herald
S. Korea's foreign population reaches all-time high of 2.73 million
South Korea's foreign population has reached an all-time high of more than 2.73 million, data showed Sunday. The number of foreign nationals staying in the country for purposes including education, employment or tourism stood at just under 2,733,000 as of the end of June, marking a 1.5 percent increase (40,068 people) from the previous month, according to data from the Korea Immigration Service under the Ministry of Justice. Of the total, some 1.55 million were long-term foreign residents staying 90 days or more, who registered personal information such as name, date of birth and purpose of stay with local immigration offices. Half of these registered foreigners were found to reside in Seoul and the surrounding metropolitan area. The Yeongnam region, which includes major cities such as Daegu, Busan and Ulsan, was home to 317,286 (20.3 percent), followed by 200,939 (12.9 percent) in the Chungcheong region and 136,990 (8.8 percent) in the Honam region. Another 552,000 of the total foreign resident population were overseas Koreans holding F-4 visas, who established a place of residence and reported it to their local immigration office, entitling them to rights similar to those of Korean citizens, such as opening bank accounts and enrolling in the national health insurance program. The remaining 620,000 foreign nationals were short-term visitors staying fewer than 90 days, most of whom were tourists. Chinese account for one in three The largest share of foreign residents was held by Chinese nationals with 972,176, accounting for 35.6 percent of the total. They were followed by Vietnamese (341,153), Americans (196,664), Thais (173,710) and Uzbeks (98,457). When categorized by visa type, F-4 visa holders, who are foreign nationals of Korean ancestry, represented the largest group, totaling 554,895. Following them were 341,453 foreign nationals on E-9 visas, issued under the Employment Permit System, which permits stays of up to three years. Launched in 2004, the temporary worker program allows small and mid-sized companies facing labor shortages to legally hire foreign workers for low-skilled jobs. F-5 permanent residency visa holders came next at 214,036, followed by 191,297 on D-2 student visas and 171,063 on B-2 tourist visas. By age, foreign residents in their 30s made up the largest segment at 25.7 percent, followed by those in their 20s (23.1 percent), 40s (16.7 percent), 60 and older (13.5 percent), 50s (12.3 percent) and under 19 (8.7 percent). The previous all-time high foreign population was recorded in 2019 at around 2.52 million, but the figure declined for two consecutive years amid the COVID-19 pandemic, falling to 2.04 million in 2020 and 1.96 million in 2021. But as COVID-19 reached the endemic stage, the figure rebounded to about 2.51 million in 2023 and rose further to 2.65 million last year. This year, the number peaked at 2.72 million in March, then dipped to 2.71 million in April and 2.69 million in May, before reaching a new record high of 2.73 million in June.
Korea Herald
15 hours ago
- Korea Herald
100 Days to 8th CIIE: Preps Harden as Global Exhibitors Eye Business Potential in China
SHANGHAI, July 27, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Facing the complex international landscape and mounting challenges, China International Import Expo (CIIE) consistently acts as a platform for global business exchange. With only 100 days to go, the 8 th CIIE is set to take place in Shanghai from November 5 to 10. As of now, over 50 countries and international organizations have confirmed their participation in the Country Pavilion. Sweden and the United Arab Emirates will serve as guest countries of honor at the 8 th CIIE, while Kyrgyzstan will make its debut. To help global enterprises across sectors better integrate into the Chinese market, the Corporate Pavilion features six major exhibition areas—encompassing Medical Equipment and Healthcare Products, Automobile and Smart Mobility, Intelligent Industry & Information Technology, Consumer Goods, Food and Agriculture Products, and Trade in Services—and will continue hosting its Innovation Incubation Special Section. Driven by strong interest and participation from overseas companies, total booked exhibition space has surpassed 330,000 square meters, with 170 companies and 26 institutions becoming eight-time full-attendance exhibitors. Notably, this year's Corporate Pavilion introduces four fresh innovations, demonstrating its vibrant energy and vast collaboration opportunities for participants. The 8 th Hongqiao International Economic Forum (HQF) will convene under the theme "Opening-up for New Opportunities, Cooperation for a Shared Future". Alongside the release of the World Openness Report 2025 and the latest World Openness Index, the HQF will host over 20 parallel sessions on revitalizing multilateral cooperation, empowering digital intelligence, green and sustainable development, and a more open China. Side events will retain previous categories, while people-to-people exchange activities will add a new "Charming Friends of City" zone, inviting international friendly provinces and cities to set up their booths.
