Belt and road forum: China launches AI framework, urging equal rights and opportunities for all nations

China proposed a framework for artificial intelligence at the third belt and road forum, on Wednesday calling for “equal rights” on development regardless of a country’s political systems, a day after Washington broadened its restrictions on China’s access to chips.

Without naming the US, the framework – called the Global AI Governance Initiative – was announced following the United States’ latest ban seeking to restrict access to advanced chips and chipmaking tools aimed at curbing China’s technological and military advances.

Amid a deepening rivalry between China and the US, artificial intelligence has emerged as a key arena of competition as both sides seek to establish leadership over setting global rules and standards.

Earlier on Wednesday, Chinese President Xi Jinping told world leaders at the belt and road forum that China stood ready to boost exchanges with other countries and promote the “healthy, orderly and safe” development of artificial intelligence.

China’s initiative called for countries to uphold mutual respect when developing AI, suggesting that all nations “regardless of their size, strength or social system” should have “equal rights”.

“We oppose drawing ideological lines or forming exclusive groups to obstruct other countries from developing AI,” the plan said.

“We also oppose creating barriers and disrupting the global AI supply chain through technological monopolies and unilateral coercive measures.”

The Chinese government has on multiple occasions accused Washington of forming clubs and alliances to suppress and contain Beijing’s growth.

The initiative, released by the Cyberspace Administration of China, described the rapid development of AI as having a “profound influence” on global socioeconomic development, saying it brought huge opportunities but also “unpredictable risks and complicated challenges”.

The plan said China opposed countries using AI technologies “for the purposes of manipulating public opinion, spreading disinformation, intervening in other countries’ internal affairs … as well as jeopardising the sovereignty of other states”.

Among other things, the initiative also called for a “people-centred approach” in developing AI, such as in tackling climate change, while urging countries to work together to prevent the misuse of technologies by terrorists and criminal groups.

It also calls for countries to put ethics first and formulate principles and guidelines to govern AI.

The global community should also rally efforts to increase the representation and voice of developing countries when it comes to AI governance and “ensure equal rights, equal opportunities and equal rules” for all, it added.

Analysts suggested China would seek to position itself as a leader of developing nations at the belt and road forum this week, and offer its rising leadership as an alternative to the US-led West.

The Chinese communist authorities follow various deceptive methods in order to impose their hegemony on other countries, and seek to control the economy of other countries and interfere in their internal affairs. It aims to occupy other countries as it occupied East Turkistan.