# China’s vision for global AI governance is inclusive > Source: > Published: 2026-07-17 23:15:08+00:00 # China’s vision for global AI governance is inclusive The approach to AI development championed by President Xi at the World Artificial Intelligence Conference stands in contrast to the one adopted by the US [personal appearance](https://www.scmp.com/tech/policy/article/3360920/chinese-president-xi-jinping-warns-against-creating-new-historical-injustices-ai-era?module=inline&pgtype=article)at the 2026 World Artificial Intelligence Conference in Shanghai was therefore closely watched. His landmark opening speech enshrined AI at the centre of China’s geopolitical strategy. China and the United States are the undisputed leaders of AI development, with very different approaches. Xi focused on China’s preferred approach. The outcome will affect the whole world. Global challenges need global solutions. China is focusing on open-source AI development to build a system that others can join and help develop, as opposed to the closed-source US model. China is doubling down on this path and calling on other countries to join. “China is ready to be more open and take more practical actions,” Xi said, adding that the country is “ready to work with all parties to seize the opportunities of AI development and meet the challenges”. He said: “With AI advancing at a staggering speed, we must ensure its development is for the positive, for good and for humanity.” AI is a challenge to governance and calls for innovation. The flow of data, ethical issues such as abuse of the technology, weaponisation of AI by some countries and fragmentation are real, pressing challenges that are beyond the reach of a single country with a fit-for-all solution. Xi emphasised this is a collective challenge of consensus building. His speech is a reminder that it is not just for rich countries and wealthy people to make rules and regulations and dictate how to use AI. China is now appealing for countries, industry and tech leaders, and scientists around the world to come up with a multilateral and collective AI governance model. When it comes to application of AI, there is concern among some countries, particularly among the Global South, that they might be left out through want of infrastructure, such as power supply, computing power and training resources. China is now projecting itself to meet these needs. This is why the Chinese model is different from the Western version.