Chinese vice premier stresses AI self-reliance, open cooperation

Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang on Wednesday stressed self-reliance and open international cooperation in artificial intelligence (AI) when delivering a keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the 9th Digital China Summit in Fuzhou City, east China's Fujian Province.

Ding, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said that advancing the building of Digital China and raising the level of digital and intelligent development is a strategic task bearing on the overall progress of Chinese modernization.

Ding called for seizing the general trend of AI development, accelerating the building of a Digital China, and facilitating AI empowerment in economic and social development, so as to inject strong momentum into Chinese modernization.

Ding highlighted five aspects for China's AI development.

He stressed the need to uphold independent innovation, advance core technology breakthroughs across the entire innovation chain, and continue to consolidate China's leading position in AI development. He said that China's AI sector must forge its own path to withstand any external pressure or attempts at suppression.

He also called for application-driven development, deeper implementation of the "AI+" initiative, greater integration of AI with the real economy, and faster cultivation of new quality productive forces.

The vice premier further emphasized the importance of building a collaborative innovation ecosystem, with closer coordination across the AI industry chain.

Ding underscored the need for openness and win-win cooperation, saying AI development should build bridges for mutually beneficial cooperation and better serve the people of all nations.

He also stressed safe and controllable AI development, urging efforts to improve relevant regulations, strengthen oversight, and promote the healthy and orderly development of AI.

Before the opening ceremony, Ding visited the on-site experience zone of the summit.

Chinese vice premier stresses AI self-reliance, open cooperation

The first Hualong One nuclear power unit in the Yangtze River Delta entered service Wednesday after a 168‑hour full‑power trial, marking a milestone in China's drive for homegrown nuclear technology, operator China General Nuclear Power Group (CGN) said.

The No. 1 unit of the San'ao nuclear power project in east China's Zhejiang Province began construction on Dec 31, 2020, and was connected to the grid on March 12, 2026.

"The No. 1 Unit has passed all performance tests and run continuously at full power for 168 hours. All parameters are stable and safety performance is sound. Once operational, the unit is expected to generate more than 9 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity per year," said Ding Jingying, deputy general manager of CGN Cangnan Nuclear Power Co.

The San'ao project is the first nuclear power project in China to incorporate private investment. It is designed to host six Hualong One units, to be built in three phases. Four units have already been approved, and construction is moving forward as planned.

When all six units are up and running, their total annual power output is expected to exceed 54 billion kilowatt-hours, roughly equivalent to the yearly electricity consumption of the entire Wenzhou metropolitan area. That would save more than 16.35 million tonnes of standard coal and cut carbon dioxide emissions by nearly 50 million tonnes each year, CGN said.

First Hualong One nuclear power unit enters service in Yangtze River Delta