China Advocates Global Consensus to Balance AI Development and Security at WAIC 2025.

In July 2025, during the World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) held in Shanghai, the People's Republic of China, through Premier Li Qiang, emphasized the urgent need for a global consensus on responsible Artificial Intelligence (AI) development. China urged the international community to collaboratively address AI-related security risks and governance challenges.

      - At the 2025 edition of the World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) in Shanghai, China, Premier Li Qiang delivered a keynote address calling for international collaboration to balance the benefits of AI innovation with potential security threats. The event was organized by the Ministry of Science and Technology of the People's Republic of China, along with the Shanghai Municipal Government and leading AI research bodies.

      - Li Qiang underscored that AI must evolve under human control and governance frameworks. He referenced global concerns around deepfakes, machine hallucinations, and algorithmic discrimination, calling them urgent issues needing a united global strategy. He reaffirmed China’s support for international standards to ensure AI technologies are safe, reliable, and inclusive for all countries.

      - China also showcased its Global AI Governance Initiative, first introduced in 2023, reaffirming its commitment to lead diplomatic efforts in building consensus-driven, ethical AI. The Initiative proposes cross-border coordination for risk assessment, open-source development, and multilateral regulation involving the United Nations, G20, and World Economic Forum.

Main Point :-   (i) Leading technology firms such as Huawei, Tencent, Alibaba, and global players like Tesla, Amazon, and NVIDIA participated in WAIC 2025. Exhibits included AI-powered robotics, language models, and cybersecurity systems. China positioned itself as an advocate for AI for good, promoting transparency in data use and neutrality in algorithms.

      (ii) Premier Li Qiang’s remarks aligned with growing international calls for regulating frontier AI systems like generative AI, autonomous weapons, and AI-powered surveillance. China urged for a global code of conduct to prevent monopolization by tech giants, especially in the Global South, where digital divides threaten AI fairness.

(iii) WAIC 2025 concluded with a proposal for an International AI Governance Framework, co-authored by Chinese, European, and ASEAN representatives. The document suggests the creation of an AI Safety Council, funding for AI literacy, and annual reporting to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) on AI ethics and accountability progress.
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