Global cooperation takes center stage at Geneva AI governance forum

International cooperation on artificial intelligence (AI) governance, built on full dialogue and mutual learning, came into sharp focus as the first session of the Global Dialogue on AI Governance opened in Geneva on Monday.

The two-day event, organized by the United Nations, brought together representatives from governments, international organizations, and industry to discuss the formulation of global rules for AI. Topics ranged from the opportunities and risks of AI, bridging the AI divide, and international cooperation, to human oversight of AI systems.

AI is moving far faster than regulation, and the world is racing to keep pace. Against that backdrop, how to forge global cooperation and pool collective strength for AI governance emerged as a central topic of discussion at the forum.

"We have seen different member states all around the globe which are introducing now already AI governance structures and therefore also the learning from each other, being better together by joining forces. This is one of the key parts of these days here in Geneva," said Annalena Baerbock, President of the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly.

China's Minister of Industry and Information Technology, Li Lecheng, attending as the senior representative of the Chinese government, used his opening address to urge stronger international cooperation on AI governance, insisting that every country deserves an equal chance to develop and benefit from AI.

He also reiterated China's consistent support for the UN as the main platform for global AI governance, and expressed China's readiness to help narrow the global AI divide.

Beyond the main stage, industry experts and academics engaged in thematic sessions and side events, exchanging views on both the promise and bottlenecks of AI governance.

Chinese AI experts at the forum saw real value in the platform itself -- a place where global dialogue can truly take root and, in turn, nurture cooperation in AI governance.

"We need a platform that puts all the considerations altogether to find consensus and interoperability. Instead of competing with each other, you find a way to connect with each other and to learn from each other. So the next step is that really to use the platform like this global dialog on AI governance, like the UN General Assembly, to solve problems based on these discussions," said Zeng Yi, a Wu Yuzhang Chair Professor at Gaoling School of AI, Renmin University of China.

Global cooperation takes center stage at Geneva AI governance forum

South China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region and its neighboring Guangdong Province upgraded their flood alerts to the highest-level red warning on Tuesday in the aftermath of Typhoon Maysak.

Floods in Guangxi caused by torrential rain from Maysak, the 10th typhhoon of the year, have already claimed at least six lives, with 11 other people still missing.

Local authorities say that the floods have affected 375,000 people in Guangxi and prompted the emergency evacuation of 130,000 residents.

Rescue operations underway in Guangxi include more than 8,000 personnel, over 1,700 vehicles and 5,700 boats deployed for search and rescue, as well as hazard removal.

On Tuesday morning, water levels at 70 monitoring stations on 55 rivers in Guangxi remained between 0.01 and 7.46 meters above warning levels, according to the regional hydrology center, which also warned that the situation would persist in several river sections over the next 24 hours.

Guangdong's hydrology authorities said rising water levels along the Xijiang River had triggered a red flood alert for the section of the river that runs through Fengkai County in Zhaoqing City.

Currently, 341 reservoirs in Guangxi are above their flood-limit water levels and 56 monitoring stations on 41 rivers in the region are reporting water levels above warning thresholds.

Local authorities said they will continue to strengthen early-warning systems, resident-relocation operations, and post-disaster recovery measures with more heavy rain forecast for the next three days.

Flood alert upgraded to highest level in China's Guangxi, Guangdong after Typhoon Maysak