Progress, Challenges, and China's Role in Global Artificial Intelligence Governance

A one of the most concerning global governance issuesatpresent.In recent years，breakthroughsin generative AI technologies have been made，and theprospectsoflarge-scaleapplication ofAI technologieshave become ever brighter， bringing us closer to the artificial general intelligence（AGI） that canenablemachinestothinkandact like humans. As a strategic technology leading a new round of technological revolutionand industrial transformation，AI offers enormous opportunities to advance human society， yet it also introduces significant securityrisks and challenges.How to maximize the developmentpotential of AI at the global level while establishing an effective international governance frameworkhasbecomeafocusof global concern.

PROGRESSINGLOBALAIGOVERNANCE

The international community began focusing on AI governance around2010，whenUNESCOand the InternationalTelecommunication Union （ITU） assessed AI's impacton education，culture，ethics，and communications.However，AIdidnot enterthe formal globalagendauntil 2017，whentheITUandtheXPRIZE Foundationco-hostedthefirstAIfor GoodGlobalSummittoadvancetheUNSustainable Development Goals throughAI.Thatsame year， the UN Secretary-General'sreport for the first time included AI on global governanceagendas.In2O18， theUNestablishedtheHigh-LevelPanelonDigital Cooperation，calling for international cooperation on AI governance.In 2019，UNEsCO formulated theworld's firstRecommendation onthe Ethics of Artificial Intelligence，which was formallyadopted in November2021. It wasalso in 2019， the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development（OECD） issued itsfirst intergovernmental AI Principles，and the Groupof 20 （G2O） introduced itsinaugural G2O AI Principles. Aftergreat breakthroughsachieved ingenerative AI in 2022， the process of global AI governance hasbeenaccelerated.

First， the UN has played an active role in leading the global governance on AI.At the UN Security Council's first open debate on AI held in July 2023，Secretary-General António GuterresstatedthattheUNisan“ideal place\"for setting global standards and approaches forAI governance，and he welcomedcallsforthecreationofa new UN entity to govern AI. The overarching goal of thisbodywould be to support countries tomaximize the benefits ofAI， to mitigate existing and potential risks，and to establish and administerinternationally-agreedmechanisms of monitoring and governance. In October 2023， Secretary-GeneralGuterres announced the establishment of a High-Level Advisory Body on AI to bridge existing and emerging AI governance initiatives. In March and July 2024， the UN General Assembly adopted the resolution on Seizing the Opportunities of Safe， Secure and Trustworthy Artificial Intelligence Systems for Sustainable Development and the resolution on Enhancing International Cooperation on CapacityBuilding of Artificial Intelligence. LaterinSeptember， theUNSummit of the Future approved the Global Digital Compact， making“strengtheninginternational AI governance for the benefit of humanity” one of its five key objectives. In March 2025， the UN issued Terms of Reference and Modalities for the Establishment and Functioning of the Independent International Scientific Panel on Artificial Intelligence and the Global Dialogue on Artificial Intelligence Governance： zero draft， defining the structure and functions of the panel and establishing the Global Dialogue on Artificial Intelligence Governance as an intergovernmental and multi-stakeholder platform to facilitate open， transparent and inclusive discussions on AI governance.In addition， the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence proposed by UNESCO has won the support of over 50 countries，and the ITU has held seven consecutive AI for Good Global Summits， providing an important platform for stakeholders to exchange views.

Second，other intergovernmental organizationshave been actively en gagedin AI-related initiatives.In 2023， theGroup of Seven （G7） launched the Hiroshima AI Process，calling for collaboration with the Global Partnership on AI， the OECD， developing countries，and emerging economies to accelerate the building ofa humancentered and inclusive governance framework.In the same year， OECD membersapproved itsnewdefinition ofan“AI system\"The OECD's definitionsof\"AIsystem”and“AIlife cycle”havebecomeakeyreference for global AI policy-making： One year later， the OECD released itsupdated AI Principles，emphasizing the importance of protecting one's privacy， intellectual property，security，and information integrity in the context of therapiddevelopmentofgenerative AI，and calling for an interoperable global governance frameworkfor AI. Atthe 2023 G20 New Delhi Summit， leadersreaffirmed to“leverageAI for thepublic goodbysolving challenges inahuman-centricmanner\"and the G20RiodeJaneiroLeaders'DeclarationintegratedAI into the“global gov ernance institutional reform”agenda andestablisheda G2OAITaskForce for2025.In July 2024，the Shanghai Cooperation Organization（SCO） issuedtheAstana Declaration.The member states of SCOattached great importancetothedevelopmentand application of AI technologies，noting their readiness to work together to preventtheassociatedriskstoensurethat AI can benefit all humanity.In 2023， BRICSdecided to establishanAI study group to promote the formation ofAI governance frameworksand standard normswith broad consensus.

Third，global AI security governancehaswonwideparticipation from the international community.In No vember2023，the firstAI Safety Sum mitwasheld in theUK，duringwhich the first international declaration on global AI governance-the Bletchley Declaration-wasadopted.The declaration emphasizes thatall countries share theresourcesand tasksto ensure the safety of all human beings，and should establishapropermechanism forprotectingandadministering the development and deployment of frontierAI systems.InMay2024，theAI Seoul Summit adopted the Seoul Declarationand the Seoul Statement of IntenttowardInternational Cooperation onAI Safety Science，stressing that AI safety，innovation，andinclusivityare inter-related goals，and urging nations to harness human-centric AI to address the difficulties facing theworld.In February2025，theAIAction Summitheld inParisaffirmeditsmainpriorities， including enhancing AI accessibility， building a global governance framework for all， promoting AI-driven innovation and development， encouraging AI deployment that positively shapes thefutureofworkandlabormarkets making AI sustainable for people and theplanet， and reinforcing internation al cooperationto promote coordinationin international governance. Sixty countriesand internationalorganizationssigned theStatementonInclusive andSustainableArtificial Intelligence forPeopleand the Planet.Regrettably， the U.S.and the UK did not sign.

CHALLENGESFACINGGLOBAL AI GOVERNANCE

Preventing and addressing AI securityrisksare shared objectives of the international community. AI remains attheinceptionofitslifecycle， thatis the innovationand development phase， with vast potential and inherent uncertainty. At the same time， intensifying great-powercompetition inaworld undergoing changes unseen in a century has made AI， as a strategic technology， a focal point of technological rivalry. All these have created mounting challenges and a long way for global AI governance.

First，despiterapidadvancements， AI technology is not yet widely applied， and countries continuously update their AI regulations-addinguncertainty to reaching a consensus on global AI governance.Atpresent，theAI-driven digital revolutionisclearlydemonstrating a trend of technological integration， asAI is driving innovation and breakthroughsacrossmany other fields.Asa result，unleashingAI's full potential has become a top priority for governments when formulating regulations and policies. The EU， a long-standing leader in privacyprotectionandregulatorypower，oncespearheadedtheestablishment oftheglobaldatastandardsviatheGeneral Data Protection Regulation;in 2024，theunionintroduced theworld's first comprehensive legal framework forAI—the EU Artificial Intelligence Act.YetattheAIActionSummitinParisinFebruary2O25，HennaVirkkunen， executive vice-presidentof the EuropeanCommission，announcedthatthe EU has begun easing AI regulations to promote technological innovation.In theU.S.， the Trump administration has clearly showed its opposition to excessive AI regulations since taking office. U.S.VicePresidentJ.D.Vancewarned attheAIActionSummitinParisthat excessive regulation of the AI could kill atransformativeindustrythatisjust taking off，and pledgedU.S.efforts to encourage AI growth and take AI innovation and AI-driven power rivalry as policy priorities. Given AI's ongoing innovation and development， the significantshiftsofcountriesinattitudes towardsAI regulation，especiallythe trend of easing regulations will definitely bring profound impacts on global AI governance.

Second，AIhasbecomeakeybattleground of great-power rivalry， and the intensifying competition among majorpowersmaymakeitevenharder to reach consensus on global AI governance. AI is playing a strategic role in building a country's comprehensive power and core competitivenessas it actsasa significant force to accelerate theevolutionoftheinternational order and reshape the global landscape. In November 2023， the report AI and Geopolitics： How Might AI Affect the Rise and Fall of Nations？ released by RANDCorporation，aU.S.research institution，warnedthatnationsacross the globe could see their power rise or fall depending on how they harness and manage the development of AI， and the AI development path that ultimatelyunfoldswill matter enormously for the shape and contours of the future world. The U.S.， today's leading AI power， views AI competition asa “highstakes economic and geopolitical race\". In January 2O25， President Trump announced the“Stargate” Project， pledging to invest USD 50o billion in AI over thenext four years to consolidate U.S. leadershipinthesector.Atthe ParisAI Action Summit in February 2025，European Commission PresidentUrsula vonderLeyenunveiledthe InvestAI initiative， the EU's version of\"Stargate\"， aiming to make Europe one of the top AI continents. China's launch of Deep Seek，itslarge-scaleAImodel，drew strongreactionsfromtheU.S.and other Western countries， further ratcheting upgreat-powertensions.TheDiplomatwebsiteand The Washington Post dubbedDeepSeek'sdebutasAmerica's “Sputnik moment” for AI， suggesting China’s leading role in global opensourceAI developmentand thatChina mayrewritetherulesoftheAIrace. FrenchscholarAsmaMhallawarnsthat DeepSeek hasthrust theU.S.-China \"confrontation” into the spotlight and served asawake-upcall forEurope'sAI ambitions. As more major powers enter the AI race， the contradictory AI visions among countrieswill deepen international divisions and spark new geopolitical confrontations-making unified global AI rules ever more elusive.

Third， the national-securityrisks posed byAI furthercomplicateefforts to advance global governance. While threats posed by the upcoming AGI maylargelymotivate theachievement of global consensus and global AI governance， today'spriorityishow to safeguard national securityin theAI era. On one hand， disinformation campaignsand automated cyberattacksare omnipresent，posing a common challenge of preventing and mitigating AIdriven security risks.On the otherhand， militaryuses ofAI arereshaping warfareand injectingfreshuncertaintyinto an already complex geopolitical landscape.TheUkraine crisishasbecome a testing ground for AI. AI technology has been widely applied in such areas as cognitive war， intelligence war， drones， decision support systems，and cyber confrontations.Given thatAI iseasyto useandcanbespreadrapidly，itsthreat tonational securitymayeclipseeven that of nuclear weapons. The military usesofAI speakvolumesaboutthe intense competitivenessand confrontationofAI security.Policymakershence must secure a first-mover advantage without triggering a security dilemma. Consequently， strengthening national competitivenessanddeterrenceoften takesprecedence—yet this，in turn，will largely weaken states' initiative to engage in global AI governance.

CHINA'SROLEINGLOBAL AIGOVERNANCE

As the world's second-largest economyand an AI powerhouse， China has consistentlyparticipated in and helped lead global AI governance. In October 2023，President Xi Jinping unveiled the Global Initiative forAI Governanceat the opening ceremony of the third Belt andRoadForumforInternationalCooperation，charting China's course for actively engaging in global AI governance. In April 2025， General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized at a conference theneed to expand international AIcooperation，help Global South countries strengthen their technological capabilities，andcontributeChineseeffortsto narrowtheglobal AI divide.He called onallpartiestoaligndevelopment strategies，governance rules，and technical standards to establish widely recognized global frameworksand normsas soon as possible. China is now actively implementing the Global Initiative for AI Governance and promoting extensive exchange and practical cooperation in global AI governance—efforts that have earnedwidespreadacclaim from the international community.

First，Chinahascontributed a Chinese solution to global AI governance. In October 2023，it put forward the Global Initiative for AI Governance， elaborating on the Chinese solution to addressing AI development， security， andgovernance.The initiativemade the following suggestions： We should upholdapeople-centeredapproachand adhere to the principle of developing AI forgoodsothatAI alwaysdevelopsina way that is beneficial to the progress of human civilization.We should uphold the principles of mutual respect， equality， and mutual benefit in AI development，and oppose drawing ideological lines or forming exclusive groups to obstruct other countries from developing AI.We should promote the establishment of a testing and assessment system based on AI risk levels so as to make AI technologies more secure， reliable， controllable，and equitable.We should develop AI governance frameworks，normsand standards based on broad consensus with full respect for differencesin policies and practices among countries. We should support discussions within the UN framework toestablishaninternationalinstitution to govern AI. We should conduct internationalcooperationwithandprovide assistance to developing countries to bridge the gap in AI and their governance capacity. China haslong championed inclusive AI development by sharing open-source AI technologies， improving AI service accessibility， and enablingall nationsto share AI'sbenefits.This initiative reflects both China's responsibilityasanAI leaderand its cooperativespiritas theworld's largest developing country.

Second，China hasactivelyparticipated in and often led the global AI governance process to help bridge the global AI divide. China always supports a strong UN role in AI governance. China haspromoted cooperation within the UN framework， engaged deeplyindiscussionson AI ethicsand formulationoftechnicalstandards in organizationssuch asUNESCO， the ITU，and the ISO， making great efforts to push the UN to strengthen international cooperation on AI capacity-building.InJuly2024，China tabled the resolution on “Enhancing international cooperation on capacitybuilding ofartificial intelligence\"， whichwas adopted by consensusat the UNGeneral Assembly.In September 2024， China launched the AI CapacityBuilding Action Plan for Good and for All，outlining“Five Visions”and ‘Ten Actions”and proposing the“Group ofFriends for International Cooperation on AI Capacity-Building\". China hasalsoattendedAI summits held at Bletchley Park，Seoul，and Paris by invitation， signing the declarations at each meeting with a highly responsibleattitude.

Third，Chinahasfosteredinternational AI exchangesto spur bilateral and regional cooperation. In May 2024，ChinaandFrance issueda joint declaration on AI and global governance，agreeing that promoting the developmentandsecurityofAIand pushing forappropriateinternational governancearecrucial.Chinaattaches great significance to sharing digital opportunitieswith other Global South nations， integrating AI cooperation into the Digital Silk Road， the BRICS， the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation， andChina-ASEANmechanisms.In July2O24， the China-BRICSAI Developmentand CooperationCenterwas launched and later in January 2025，an opening ceremony of the operation base of the center was held in Shanghai. The center aims to promote technology and industry collaboration amongBRICS nations.In April2O25，China and countrieslike Vietnam and Cambodia signed intergovernmental agreements covering AI cooperation.

Fourth， China has leveraged global governance platforms to advance aunified AI governance framework. In July 2024， theWorldAIConferenceand the High-Level Meeting on Global AI Governance issued the Shanghai Declaration on Global AI Governance， calling upon all countries to uphold a peoplecentered approachand adhere to the principle of AI for good， ensure safety， reliability，controllabilityand fairness in developing the technology， and encourage leveraging AI technologies to empowerthedevelopmentofhuman society. Concrete recommendations for enhancing international cooperation on AI werealso offered.In2023，theWorld InternetConference（WIC）established an AI Working Group and published theDeveloping Responsible Generative ArtificialIntelligenceResearchReport and Consensus， followed by forming a specializedAI committeeinNovember 2024.In 2024， the Research Report on Global AI Governance was released at theWICWuzhen Summitsub-forum \"InternationalNormsinCyberspace： Practiceand Exploration\"，detailing the current landscape，key issues， systembuilding，and proposing the “Ten Agendas”on global AI governance， as well as the objectives，principles，and approachesforan effective global AI governance system.

CONCLUSION

Considering that the digital landscape is constantly evolving， global AI governance will remain a focal point for the international community， but its future is far from certain. For one，the trajectory ofAI development remains unclear， so there is no definitive answer to “What should global AI governance cover？” If technological breakthroughs stall， governance will likely concentrate on capacity building，narrowing the AI divide， and managing security risks based on its current development and application. For another， intensifying geopolitical conflicts and great-power rivalries will directly affect how much progress AI can make. From the Ukraine crisis to Middle East conflicts and cross-border skirmishes between India and Pakistan，unrest persists worldwide. With an increasingly complex security environment and insufficient coordination among major powers， collective actions on global AI governance will be largely inefficient—especially given AI's dual civilian and military uses. That said，if the international community unites on the basis of equality and mutual respect， upholds the vision of global AI governance featuring extensive consultation and joint contribution for shared benefit， takes a peoplecentered approach and adheres to the principle of AI for good， then certainty will be anchored and we can advance AI technologies together for the benefit of all.