China stresses commitment to promoting AI governance

Under the United Nations' new resolution on AI capacity-building, China and its partners are expanding training and cooperation in the Global South.

Fu Cong, China's permanent representative to the United Nations, on Tuesday reiterated the country's commitment to inclusive artificial intelligence development within the UN framework.

"We will continue to uphold fairness and inclusiveness, respect and protect the rights of developing countries to develop and utilize AI on an equal footing, champion collaborative governance, and support the central role of the UN in promoting global AI governance," he said.

Fu delivered his remarks at a side event of the Group of Friends for International Cooperation on AI Capacity-Building themed "From divide to synergy: Global cooperation frameworks for AI capacity-building".

The event, co-hosted by China's mission to the UN, Zambia's mission to the UN, and the China Association for Science and Technology, is part of the Multi-stakeholder Forum on Science, Technology and Innovation for the SDGs, or STI Forum.

The STI Forum is being convened this year on Wednesday and Thursday at UN headquarters in New York.

In July 2024, the UN General Assembly adopted by consensus the resolution tabled by China, together with the core group on AI capacity-building.

After that, China launched the AI Capacity-Building Action Plan for Good and for All, and initiated, with Zambia, the Group of Friends for International Cooperation on AI Capacity-Building, according to Fu.

"We aim to foster broad partnerships and take concrete steps to implement the UNGA resolution and the Global Digital Compact, so as to make sure that the benefits of digital transformation are enjoyed by all, and that no country and no one is left behind," Fu said.

The Global Digital Compact is a framework for global governance of digital technology and artificial intelligence adopted by world leaders in 2024.

Chola Milambo, Zambia's permanent representative to the UN, emphasized that capacity building in AI cannot be approached in isolation.