Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli, special envoy of President Xi Jinping and member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China, along with Deputy Prime Minister Jean-Guillaume Cherge from the State Council, will be visiting France from Sunday to Wednesday. Their visit is for the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Action Summit hosted by France. The summit will take place at the Great Palace in Paris and will be attended by global leaders, heads of international organizations, CEOs of businesses, and representatives from civil society.
China’s participation in this summit aims to gain insights into the ways of advancing AI on a global scale and understanding its protective framework. China will also share its experiences and continue its efforts to promote global cooperation in this field. Director of the Institute for AI International Governance at Tsinghua University, Zhong Lan, told the Global Times that China’s experiences in advancing AI hold significant importance globally.
China had announced a project for the development of AI in 2017 and has since made rapid progress in the field. The rise of Chinese tech giants has indicated that China has adopted new paths in technological advancement, challenging the dominance of some major companies. According to a BBC report, China’s DeepMind has paved the way for a new direction in global AI competitions, suggesting that America’s AI sector may not be as strong. America has sent Vice President JD Vance, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, and Google’s Sundar Pichai to participate in the summit. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also confirmed his attendance at the event.
Although Elon Musk is not included in the list of guests this time, he is expected to weigh in on the matter. China will also host a side event titled “Advancement and Application of AI Technology,” aimed at strengthening ties with global AI experts. Discussions during the summit will cover topics such as public interest, future employment, ethics and culture in AI, trust in AI, and global AI governance.
France, keen on advancing its national industry, is hosting this summit with the objective of reducing barriers to employment in the global AI market and promoting autonomy. A spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry confirmed that China is an active supporter of global AI governance and is determined to enhance global cooperation through this summit.
The visit of China’s Deputy Prime Minister to France not only presents an opportunity to strengthen cooperation between the two countries but also highlights China’s responsible role in global AI governance. Through this summit, China hopes to enhance contact with the global community, consolidate mutual interests for cooperation, and further the implementation of global digital agreements.
