Xi Jinping Suggests Global AI Body at APEC, Challenging U.S. Influence

Published Date : 02/11/2025 

Chinese President Xi Jinping has proposed a World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization at the APEC summit, aiming to set governance rules and promote AI as a global public good. 

Chinese President Xi Jinping took center stage at a meeting of APEC leaders on Saturday to push a proposal for a global body to govern artificial intelligence and position China as an alternative to the United States on trade cooperation.

The comments were the first by the Chinese leader on an initiative Beijing unveiled this year, while the United States has rejected efforts to regulate AI in international bodies.

Xi said a World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization could set governance rules and boost cooperation, making AI a 'public good for the international community'. In remarks published by the official news agency Xinhua, Xi added, 'Artificial intelligence is of great significance for future development and should be made for the benefit of people in all countries and regions.'

Chinese officials have said the organization could be based in the commercial hub of Shanghai. U.S. President Donald Trump did not attend the APEC leaders' summit in the South Korean city of Gyeongju, flying back to Washington directly after a meeting with Xi.

The two leaders' talks yielded a one-year deal to partially roll back trade and technology controls that had spiked tension between the world's two biggest economies. In Trump's absence, analysts had expected Xi to use the APEC meeting to promote China as a champion for its own brand of multilateral cooperation on trade and economic development.

While advanced chips made by California-based Nvidia are central to the AI boom, China-based developer DeepSeek has rolled out lower-cost models taken up by Beijing in a push for what it calls 'algorithmic sovereignty.'

Xi also urged APEC to promote the 'free circulation' of green technologies, a cluster of industries from batteries to solar panels that China dominates. APEC members approved a joint declaration and pacts on AI and the challenge of ageing populations at the meeting.

China will host the 2026 APEC summit in Shenzhen, a major hub for manufacturing, from robotics to electric car production. Xi said the city of nearly 18 million had been a fishing village until it boomed as one of China's first special economic zones in the 1980s. APEC is a consultative forum of 21 nations representing half of global trade. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQS): 

Q: What is the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization proposed by Xi Jinping?

A: The World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization is a proposed global body that aims to set governance rules for AI and promote international cooperation, making AI a public good for all countries.

Q: Why did U.S. President Donald Trump not attend the APEC summit?

A: U.S. President Donald Trump did not attend the APEC summit in Gyeongju, South Korea, and instead flew back to Washington directly after a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Q: What is the significance of Shenzhen hosting the 2026 APEC summit?

A: Shenzhen, a major manufacturing hub for industries like robotics and electric cars, will host the 2026 APEC summit. It has transformed from a fishing village to a bustling city of nearly 18 million, symbolizing China's economic development.

Q: How does China's DeepSeek contribute to AI development?

A: China-based developer DeepSeek has rolled out lower-cost AI models, which are being adopted by Beijing in a push for what it calls 'algorithmic sovereignty,' aiming to reduce dependency on foreign technology.

Q: What is APEC and what role does it play in global trade?

A: APEC, or the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, is a consultative forum of 21 nations that represents about half of global trade. It focuses on promoting free trade and economic cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region. 

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