Xi Jinping Proposes Global AI Governance Body, Positions China As U.S. Rival At APEC Summit

🗞️ News in Short (60 words):

Chinese President Xi Jinping proposed forming a “World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization” to set global AI governance rules at the APEC summit. He said AI should serve all humanity. The U.S. opposed global regulation and President Trump skipped the meeting. China seeks to lead on AI, green tech, and global trade cooperation.

📰 Full News in Detail:

Chinese President Xi Jinping took center stage at the APEC Leaders’ Summit on Saturday, calling for the creation of a global organization to govern artificial intelligence (AI) and promoting China’s role as a leader in global trade and technology cooperation — a clear move to position Beijing as an alternative to the United States.

Proposal for a Global AI Body

In his address, Xi proposed the establishment of a World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization, which would develop governance standards and foster collaboration across nations. The body, he said, would ensure that AI serves as a “public good for the international community.”
Xi emphasized that AI must benefit people worldwide, regardless of borders, and urged nations to focus on cooperation rather than competition in developing this transformative technology.

The remarks were Xi’s first public comments on this initiative, which Beijing unveiled earlier this year. Chinese officials later revealed that the proposed organization could be headquartered in Shanghai, one of China’s leading commercial and technological hubs.

China vs. U.S. on AI Governance

The United States has rejected proposals for international regulation of AI, preferring to let innovation develop under domestic frameworks. Washington has long resisted efforts by China and other nations to introduce global technology governance bodies, citing concerns about freedom, transparency, and differing standards.

In contrast, Beijing is seeking to lead global rule-making in emerging technologies such as AI, green energy, and digital trade — areas it sees as critical to shaping the future world order.

Trump Skips the APEC Summit

U.S. President Donald Trump did not attend the summit in the South Korean city of Gyeongju, having left for Washington shortly after a bilateral meeting with Xi.
Their discussions reportedly led to a one-year agreement aimed at easing trade and technology tensions between the world’s two largest economies. The temporary deal involves partial rollbacks of certain restrictions on technology and semiconductor exports — a significant, albeit short-term, relief in the ongoing U.S.-China rivalry.

China’s AI Push and “Algorithmic Sovereignty”

China has rapidly developed its AI sector amid Western export restrictions. While U.S.-made Nvidia chips remain essential for AI breakthroughs, Chinese firms like DeepSeek have rolled out cost-effective models that Beijing promotes under the concept of “algorithmic sovereignty” — the idea that nations should control their own AI models and data ecosystems rather than depend on foreign technologies.

Xi’s call for a global AI cooperation body aligns with this vision of technological self-reliance and leadership.

Promoting Green Technology and Trade

Beyond AI, Xi urged APEC members to champion the “free circulation of green technologies”, including industries like solar panels, batteries, and electric vehicles — sectors where China already dominates global production and supply chains.
He argued that open trade in green tech would accelerate the global transition toward sustainability and create shared growth opportunities.

APEC Outcomes and China’s 2026 Summit

The 21-member APEC forum, representing nearly half of global trade, adopted a joint declaration at the summit, addressing AI cooperation and the challenges of ageing populations across the region.
It was also announced that China will host the 2026 APEC Summit in Shenzhen, a city of 18 million that grew from a fishing village into a manufacturing and tech powerhouse since becoming one of China’s first special economic zones in the 1980s.

A New Chapter in Tech Diplomacy

Analysts say Xi used the APEC platform to portray China as a champion of multilateralism, filling a leadership vacuum left by the U.S.
As Washington continues to restrict technology transfers and resist global AI regulation, Beijing is stepping forward to set the agenda — positioning itself not just as a manufacturing giant, but as a rule-maker in the digital era.

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