New technologies drive a vibrant Asia-Pacific

Editor's Note: The 2026 Northeast Asia management and economics symposium, themed "Economic Cooperation in Northeast Asia Against the Backdrop of a Dynamic Asia-Pacific Region" was co-organized by the International Business School of Beijing Foreign Studies University and China Daily Opinion Channel on Friday in Beijing. Below are excerpts of five experts' speeches.

Leverage comparative strengths to build Northeast Asia's AI cooperation

Artificial intelligence has emerged as the central arena of global tech competition. Leadership in AI development is crucial for nations to enhance their future strength and international competitiveness. Major players are devising strategies and engaging in extensive contests over algorithms, computing power, data, talent, industrial ecosystems and even international rule-making. By seizing AI opportunities and strengthening regional cooperation to advance technological innovation and industrial application, Northeast Asian countries can gain a strategic edge in a rapidly changing global landscape.

The AI industry chain consists of several layers: the upstream foundation layer, which includes hardware equipment and data services; the midstream technology layer, characterized by algorithm models and knowledge graphs; the downstream application layer, which encompasses areas such as smart education and embodied intelligence; and the governance layer, which involves data regulations and ethical standards. By analyzing Northeast Asian countries and regions layer by layer in terms of their global and regional positioning, market share, technological capabilities and comparative strengths, and by identifying complementary and competitive segments, we can better pinpoint the priorities and challenges of regional cooperation.

The global AI industry chain is currently defined by two innovation cores — China and the United States — with multiple nodes and differentiated layers. China, leveraging its vast market, data and engineering capabilities, has achieved significant scale advantages in foundational models, sector-specific applications, AI hardware assembly and research patent output, especially in the midstream and downstream sectors. Other key players, including the European Union, the Republic of Korea, the United Kingdom and Israel, hold crucial positions in niche segments such as industrial vertical AI, HBM memory chips, upstream materials, basic research and AI regulatory frameworks.

In Northeast Asia's AI industrial cooperation, economies have complementary capabilities, with some good at upstream materials, some adept at memory chips and China at complete-device manufacturing and diverse application scenarios. Meanwhile, the core potential of Russia and Mongolia lies in their green-energy computing power.

AI cooperation in Northeast Asia faces significant obstacles, including technology controls disrupting the industry chain, disagreements over cross-border data rules and institutional fragmentation. These challenges raise the barriers to collaboration.

Therefore, the path forward should emphasize hardware synergy as the foundation, applications as the frontrunner, green computing power as the sustainer and governance and talent as safeguards. This approach can transform industrial complementarity into regulatory mutual trust, and facilitate the transition from low-hanging to high-hanging fruit.