China’s foreign assistance powers up AI capacity building

The second AI Capacity Building Workshop, a project initiated by the China International Development Cooperation Agency, took place in Beijing on May 12. China's Vice-Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu, United Nations Under-Secretary-General Amandeep Singh Gill, and Zambia's Permanent Representative to the UN and co-chair of the Group of Friends of AI Capacity Building Chola Milambo addressed the opening session. Officials and experts from nearly 40 countries and international organizations, including Zambia, Papua New Guinea, Iran and the UN Office for Digital and Emerging Technologies, took part in the workshop.

As a concrete measure to implement the China-proposed Global AI Governance Initiative, the workshop was undertaken by Tsinghua University and received whole-process guidance from the UN Office for Digital and Emerging Technologies. Chinese and foreign experts and trainees discussed topics such as the fair and inclusive development of AI worldwide, international cooperation on AI, and AI's impact on the UN 2030 Sustainable Development Goals. Participants also learned about China's experiences and achievements in AI development and governance as well as perspectives of various countries on AI development.

As an advocate, promoter and pioneer in AI capacity building, China has prioritized the implementation of the UN General Assembly Resolution on Enhancing International Cooperation on Capacity-Building of Artificial Intelligence. It has supported other Global South countries in enhancing AI governance capacity through such means as policy exchanges, technical support, financial assistance, personnel training and joint research.

In 2024, China announced the AI Capacity-Building Action Plan for Good and for All, which is composed of five visions and ten specific actions, as its key measure to implement the UN resolution.