By Yan Yuqing 

Do you know that Nigeria has seen rapid deployment of AI tools and digital infrastructure driven by Chinese technology investment, and ranks second in the world in terms of AI usage frequency, according to the latest research report released by the ADP Global Institute on July 14, 2026?

From July 17 to 20, the 2026 World AI Conference and High-Level Meeting on Global AI Governance was held in Shanghai, China.

Chinese President Xi Jinping attended the opening ceremony and delivered a keynote address. António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations, together with official representatives from over 100 countries and international organisations, as well as guests from academia, research and industry, attended the conference. Under the theme “AI Partnership for a Brighter Future”, the participants explored pathways to promote global AI development for good and for all.

A new round of technological revolution and industrial transformation is currently advancing in depth. AI is accelerating its shift from the digital world to the physical world, fully integrating into production and daily life, and becoming a key engine driving global development.

At the same time, the negative impacts of rapid technological iteration, such as ethical risks and challenges in data security and regulatory adaptation, are also becoming increasingly prominent.

How to get along with thinking machines? How to ensure security when an algorithm is part of decision making? How to tackle ethical challenges by technologies through adaptive governance? How to realise AI for all when the divide keeps widening? Faced with these defining questions of our time, China’s propositions, plans and actions are clear and resolute.

I. Answering the defining questions of our time: China’s Propositions

How can we guide this fine steed of AI with both speed and stability? President Xi Jinping put forward four observations:

First, adhering to the principle of openness and win-win and boost innovation-driven development. We should seize this rare historic opportunity together and strengthen AI as a new engine of global economic growth.

Second, enhancing risk awareness to ensure AI is secure and controllable. We should make sure AI always remains a trusted tool for humanity.

Third, encouraging inclusiveness and promoting mutual learning between civilizations. We should ensure that AI development contributes to the progress of human civilisation.

Fourth, advocating solidarity and improving global governance. We should avoid creating new historical injustice in the field of AI.

From the four dimensions of development, security, civilisation and governance, we share the same overarching goal: to make AI an important driving force for shared prosperity and common security, and to jointly build a just and equitable system for global AI governance.

II. Building on the Development Practice: China’s Solutions

This year marks the beginning of China’s 15th Five-Year Plan. China has always embraced AI development with an open posture, which also provides immense new opportunities for the international community.

President Xi Jinping has made it clear that we should “encourage open source, openness, collaboration and sharing, facilitate technological innovation, industrial development and scenario-based application of AI, make coordinated advances in the transformation and upgrade of traditional industries, the cultivation and growth of emerging industries and forward-looking planning for future industries”

China is always committed to providing international public goods relating to AI. Since President Xi Jinping proposed the Global AI Governance Initiative in 2023, China has promoted the adoption of the U.N.

General Assembly Resolution on Enhancing International Cooperation on Capacity Building of Artificial Intelligence by consensus, published the AI Capacity Building Action Plan for Good and for All, announced the AI Plus International Cooperation Initiative, and advocated for establishing the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization (WAICO). China has been contributing steadily to global AI governance.

To enable this fine steed of AI to advance steadily and far, openness and sharing is the only way forward. So far, the cumulative global downloads of China’s open-source large models have exceeded 10 billion.

The next-generation Kimi K3 has become the world’s largest open-source model by parameter scale. China’s large models have spawned more than 170,000 derivative applications, as the open innovation ecosystem continues to grow stronger.

III. Fulfilling Our Responsibility: Standing Together with the Global South

We often say in China, “A single string cannot make music, and a single tree does not make a forest.” AI development should not be a solo performance by a single country, but a symphony of international cooperation.

The World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organisation (WAICO) has been officially established in Shanghai. This is a major move by China to answer the call of Global South countries and unite the international community in vigorously promoting AI development and governance. It will be an important milestone in the history of AI development.

Countries including Nigeria, South Africa, Kenya and Egypt have emerged as key engines for AI development in Africa, leveraging their strengths in favorable policies, digital infrastructure and technical talent.

As more than 20 African countries roll out their national AI strategies, and compact language models are increasingly deployed in agriculture, healthcare, education and other sectors, Africa’s share of the global AI market is set to keep expanding.

China will further support global AI development to ensure that benefits of smart technology reach more countries and people.

First is capacity building. In the next five years, China will provide developing countries with 5,000 opportunities in AI training and seminar programs.

Second is building cooperation platforms. China will develop international AI application cooperation centers with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, the League of Arab States, the African Union, the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, and BRICS, and share our experience.

Third is sharing improvements in people’s well-being. China will enable 30 countries to use the AI-powered meteorological warning system, or MAZU, to safeguard homes around the world.

China stands ready to work with Nigeria and all other parties to guide this fine steed of AI together, to ensure that the intelligent technology truly benefits all humanity.

Yuqing is the Consul General of the People’s Republic of China in Lagos.