China proposes AI partnership with US ahead of Apec summit

China has signalled a desire for closer cooperation with the United States regarding artificial intelligence as leaders prepare for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) summit in Shenzhen this week. Xie Feng, the Chinese ambassador to the United States, stated that there are high expectations for major-power collaboration during the upcoming meetings.

Ambassador Xie is actively promoting the formation of a China-led AI alliance, which he suggests would be instrumental in securing regional prosperity. This diplomatic push comes as Beijing seeks to position itself as a central architect in the development and governance of emerging technologies within the Asia-Pacific region.

The focus on collective growth and shared regional interests has been reinforced by official state media. Qiushi, the flagship publication of the Communist Party, recently released a compilation of previous speeches delivered by President Xi Jinping at past Apec summits. These documents emphasise the vision of establishing an Asia-Pacific community with a shared future, a concept that has been a recurring theme in the President's international policy addresses.

The summit in Shenzhen is expected to serve as a platform for these discussions, with China aiming to align its technological goals with those of its regional partners and the United States. While the specific framework for the proposed AI alliance remains to be detailed, the overture from the Chinese embassy highlights the increasing importance of digital governance in the current geopolitical landscape.