Beijing opened its Second AI Capacity Building Workshop on May 12 at Tsinghua University, gathering officials and experts from nearly 40 countries and regions alongside international organizations such as ASEAN and the African Union. The event, organized by China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, highlights accelerating efforts to shape inclusive frameworks for artificial intelligence governance.
Vice Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu underscored China's commitment to advancing President Xi Jinping's Global AI Governance Initiative, which proposes collaborative principles like openness and fairness. "AI should serve as a global public good benefitting all humanity," Ma said, urging nations to uphold a shared future while fostering innovation and international cooperation.
The workshop aligns with the UN General Assembly resolution A/RES/78/311, adopted unanimously in 2024 to strengthen AI capacity building through joint research and technical support. Ma noted China's establishment of the Group of Friends of AI Capacity Building and its Universal AI Capacity Building Program as milestones in this effort.
UN Special Envoy Amandeep Singh Gill praised the initiative via video, emphasizing its potential to bridge divides in digital access. Zambia’s UN representative Chola Milambo commended China's leadership in boosting AI resources for the Global South, calling the event a crucial step toward realizing the UN's Global Digital Compact.
This marks the second such workshop after the inaugural session in Shanghai last September, signaling China's expanding role in multilateral tech diplomacy.
