China's Xi calls for more global efforts to guide AI, chides U.S. for its curbs on tech sharing

By — Han Guan Ng, The Associated Press Han Guan Ng, The Associated Press By — Chan Ho-him, Associated Press Chan Ho-him, Associated Press Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/chinas-xi-calls-for-more-global-efforts-to-guide-ai-chides-us-for-its-curbs-on-tech-sharing Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter China's Xi calls for more global efforts to guide AI, chides U.S. for its curbs on tech sharing World Jul 17, 2026 1:07 PM EDT SHANGHAI (AP) — Development and governance of artificial intelligence should be a global effort, Chinese President Xi Jinping said Friday, while reiterating China's objections to what he called the "overstretching" of national security concerns. Speaking at a conference in Shanghai, Xi said AI should not be dominated by any single nation. American-led restrictions have blocked China from accessing some of the world's most advanced technologies, spurring China's efforts to build its own know-how and intensifying the rivalry between the world's two biggest economies. "The development of artificial intelligence should not be a solo performance by any single country but rather a symphony of global cooperation," Xi said at the opening of China's annual World Artificial Intelligence Conference in Shanghai. Others attending included the leaders of Kazakhstan, Cambodia and Thailand and U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres. READ MORE: Xi touts China's rapid industrialization as model for developing nations Xi opposes the 'overstretching' of national security in AI "We should together oppose the practice of overstretching the concept of national security in the field of artificial intelligence, and of placing one's own security above that of other countries," he said, repeating a longstanding Chinese complaint. China will expand AI cooperation with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, the League of Arab States, the African Union, the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and the BRICS countries, Xi said. He promised to provide access for 30 countries to a Chinese-developed AI meteorological tool that provides early warning systems. Over the next five years, Xi said China will provide 5,000 AI training opportunities to developing countries. READ MORE: China hits back at U.S. sanctions on tech giants, restricting its exports to American defense firms Closer partnerships can help prevent "historical injustice in AI," he said. China's new AI cooperation body seen as response to the U.S. Ahead of the conference, 29 countries including Pakistan, Russia and Kazakhstan signed an agreement with China to establish a World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization. State media described it as an intergovernmental organization headquartered in Shanghai promoting global AI governance. The new AI cooperation organization can be viewed as China's answer to the U.S.-led Pax Silica initiative, said George