Turing Award winner commends China's advancement in quantum cryptography

Canadian computer scientist Gilles Brassard, the 2025 Turing Award winner, stressed the importance of quantum cryptography in securing global communications and highlighted China's advancement in the field.

Speaking at the just-concluded 2026 World AI Conference in Shanghai, Brassard said quantum cryptography requires costly but essential infrastructure. He praised China’s strategic vision in building it.

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Turing Award winner commends China's advancement in quantum cryptography

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Turing Award winner commends China's advancement in quantum cryptography

"Some infrastructures are expensive but necessary, and I believe that infrastructure that will make it possible to have a full-scale quantum cryptographic protection will be expensive but necessary. And the good news is that if there is one country in the world who understands that is China. And China is the most advanced country in the world for deploying quantum cryptography," he said.

Brassard also commended China's broader commitment to quantum technologies, noting that the country has designated the sector as a key industry for development during the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026–2030).

"Quantum technologies is really the way of the future. It's already a bit of the present. And I really believe that a country that will master quantum technologies better than others will be yours. And you're well on your way for that. Again, for quantum cryptography, number one in the world. For quantum computing, you're very high," he said.

The 2026 World AI Conference and High-Level Meeting on Global AI Governance was held in Shanghai from Friday through Monday, bringing together global experts, government and business representatives, scholars, and investors to discuss new opportunities in AI development.

Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index market ended mixed Tuesday with the benchmark Hang Seng Index down 0.04 percent to close at 25,132.29 points.

The Hang Seng China Enterprises Index dropped 0.25 percent to end at 8,360.68 points, the Hang Seng Tech Index rose 1.32 percent to end at 4,814.83 points.