Chinese President Xi Jinping has called for increased international cooperation in the development of artificial intelligence (AI), stating that AI should not be dominated by any single country. Speaking at the opening ceremony of the World Artificial Intelligence Conference in Shanghai on Friday, July 17th, 2026, Xi emphasized a “people-centred” approach to AI technology.

“AI development should not be a solo performance by a single country, but a symphony of international cooperation,” Xi said. He also warned against overstretching national security concepts in AI or prioritizing one country’s security over others.

To support this vision, Xi announced China’s plans to collaborate with international bodies from Africa, Latin America, Asia, and BRICS countries to provide AI-related opportunities.

As reported by Al Jazeera, while China lags behind the United States in access to the most advanced semiconductors, it leads in powering large data centres that run on AI chips. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), typical data centres consume as much electricity as 100,000 households, with next-generation “hyperscale” facilities using power equivalent to two million homes.

The conference also highlighted concerns about the control and cost of AI infrastructure in regions like Africa, underscoring the global impact and stakes involved in AI development.

Sources