China Urges Global Consensus On Balancing AI Development, Security

China’s Premier Li Qiang has warned that artificial intelligence (AI) development must be balanced with security concerns, calling for urgent global consensus—even as the tech race between Beijing and Washington intensifies, Rebecca Bailey and Luna Lin reported for Agence France-Presse (AFP).

Opening the World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) in Shanghai, Li emphasized the need for governance and open-source collaboration. I Photo: Ultralytics X

His remarks came just days after U.S. President Donald Trump unveiled a sweeping deregulatory strategy aimed at cementing U.S. dominance in the fast-moving field, promising to “remove red tape and onerous regulation” that could hinder private sector AI innovation.

Opening the World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) in Shanghai, Li emphasized the need for governance and open-source collaboration. He also announced the creation of a Chinese-led international AI cooperation body.

“The risks and challenges brought by artificial intelligence have drawn widespread attention... How to find a balance between development and security urgently requires further consensus from the entire society,” Li said.

He gave no details about the new organization, though state media later reported that Shanghai was the “preliminary consideration” for its headquarters.

According to Xinhua, the body would “promote global governance featuring extensive consultation, joint contribution, and shared benefits,” but offered no specifics on its structure or mechanisms.