Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday called for making good use of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies to increase understanding, inclusiveness, exchanges and sharing among all civilizations.
Xi made the statement when delivering a keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the 2026 World AI Conference and High-Level Meeting on Global AI Governance in Shanghai.
"AI development and its application should not erode or undermine the diversity of world civilizations or the uniqueness of cultures of different countries. We must shape the values of AI with humanity's common values and make good use of AI technologies to increase understanding, inclusiveness, exchanges and sharing among all civilizations. We should tend to the garden of civilizations with great care to ensure that the beauty of each civilization is appreciated and shared," he said.
Also attending the ceremony were Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet, Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, and U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, alongside official representatives, business leaders, and scholars from more than 100 other countries and international organizations.
The 2026 World AI Conference and High-Level Meeting on Global AI Governance runs through Monday.
Xi calls for harnessing AI to promote understanding, inclusiveness among civilizations
Xi calls for harnessing AI to promote understanding, inclusiveness among civilizations
China witnessed a net increase of approximately 160 billion U.S. dollars in foreign capital inflows during the first five months of 2026, representing a marked improvement in the country's appeal to global investors, the State Administration of Foreign Exchange (SAFE) said on Friday.
"Balance of payments data showed that foreign investors' various types of investment in China recorded a net increase of about 160 billion U.S. dollars in the first five months of the year, significantly outperformed the same period last year. This includes direct investment, portfolio investment, and deposits and loans absorbed from abroad. China maintains its position as the world's second-largest destination for accumulated foreign investment stock," Zhao Yuchao, head of SAFE Balance of Payments Department, told reporters at a press briefing, adding that China maintains its position as the world's second-largest destination for accumulated foreign investment stock.
The SAFE data also showed China's foreign investment structure has continued to shift toward higher-value and more innovation-driven sectors.
"The SAFE cross-border receipts and payments data showed that in the first half of the year, foreign capital inflows into China's high-tech services and high-tech manufacturing sectors increased by 61 percent year on year, accounting for 36 percent of total capital inflows, up 11 percentage points from the same period last year. The data indicates foreign investment in China has gradually shifted in recent years, from seeking the cost and scale advantages of 'Made in China', to jointly participating in the development of 'Created in China'," Zhao said.
Foreign investment into China sees 160-bln-USD net increase in Jan-May period: SAFE
