China has positioned itself as a champion of inclusive AI development with the release of its global action plan for artificial intelligence during the 2025 World Artificial Intelligence Conference in Shanghai on July 26.
The plan, unveiled by Premier Li Qiang, calls for international cooperation on AI technology development and regulation, with China proposing the establishment of a global AI cooperation organization. The Chinese government is tentatively considering establishing the organization's headquarters in Shanghai, according to sources involved in the matter.
The initiative emphasizes China's "AI plus" strategy for integrating the technology across industries, with a particular focus on helping nations in the Global South develop AI capabilities. This approach aims to bridge what Chinese officials call the "digital and intelligent divide" between developed and developing economies.
"China attaches great importance to global AI governance, and has been actively promoting multilateral and bilateral cooperation with a willingness to offer more Chinese solutions," Premier Li stated during his address at the conference. The three-day event attracted over 1,200 industry leaders, government officials, researchers, and investors from 30 countries.
The timing of China's announcement is significant, coming just days after US President Donald Trump unveiled America's AI Action Plan on July 23. The US plan, which identifies over 90 federal policy actions across three pillars – Accelerating Innovation, Building American AI Infrastructure, and Leading in International Diplomacy and Security – takes a markedly different approach, focusing on cementing US dominance in AI through reduced regulation and expanded energy supplies for data centers.
While the US plan emphasizes American leadership and technological supremacy, China's initiative highlights multilateral cooperation and inclusive development. Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt, who attended the Shanghai conference, called for international collaboration, stating: "As the largest and most significant economic entities in the world, the United States and China should collaborate on these issues."