The second Workshop on AI Capacity-Building hosted by China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs opened in Beijing on Monday, with the aim of sharing China's AI development experience and promoting the country's Global AI Governance Initiative.
The event was held at Tsinghua University, with officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Beijing Municipal People's Government and representatives from international organizations and nearly 40 developing countries in attendance.
At the opening ceremony, Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu said that the rapid development of emerging technologies such as AI has become an important driving force for industrial transformation. He said China has always embraced intelligent transformation, believing that all countries should uphold the concept of a community with a shared future for mankind and make artificial intelligence a truly international public benefit.
"Artificial intelligence is the common wealth of all mankind, not a game for rich countries and rich people. Digital dividends cannot become digital hegemony, and the intelligent revolution should not lead to an intelligent divide. Countries should jointly create an open, fair, and non-discriminatory environment for the development of artificial intelligence, help developing countries strengthen capacity-building, provide low-threshold services for small and medium-sized enterprises and ordinary people, and promote the accessibility of artificial intelligence technology," he said.
In October 2023, China put forward the Global AI Governance Initiative, offering China's support to the adoption of AI on a global scale. In July 2024, China promoted the unanimous adoption of the resolution on strengthening international cooperation in AI capacity-building at the 78th United Nations General Assembly.
Chola Milambo, Zambia's permanent representative to the United Nations, said China has mobilized international consensus on AI development and governance, which benefits developing countries.
"AI presents great opportunities to deal with the core challenges that we face, whether it's climate change, whether it's addressing disease. In Zambia, we have rolled out our digitalization framework strategy as well as an AI strategy. However, we need to translate those strategies into implementable programs. Lack of knowledge is one of the key issues, we also need capacity-building in terms of computer capacity. The human component in terms of the capacities is a core part of the capacity-building. China is a key leader in artificial intelligence, no doubt, it is recognized across the world. Your humility and your generosity to extend this knowledge with other countries in something that will be with us for very long time," he said.
China has also cooperated extensively with BRICS countries, ASEAN members and others in the fields of artificial intelligence industry empowerment and infrastructure construction, and helped Global South countries improve their technological capabilities to bridge the global AI gap.
Foreign Ministry-led AI capacity building workshop opens in Beijing
