# Xi Jinping vows to make AI for all in debut at China’s top tech summit > Source: > Published: 2026-07-17 03:07:28+00:00 # Xi Jinping vows to make AI for all in debut at China’s top tech summit The Chinese president urges a “people-centred” approach to AI tech development at the World AI Conference on Friday [SHANGHAI/ HONG KONG] Chinese President Xi Jinping hailed China’s progress in developing low-cost artificial intelligence, pressing his personal imprint on the country’s rapidly expanding global influence to call for a more open technological order. Xi used his first appearance at the World AI Conference in Shanghai on Friday (Jul 17) to urge the world to adhere to an inclusive approach, encouraging collaboration without rivalries. “AI development should not be a solo performance by a single country, but a symphony of international cooperation,” he said. Xi spoke of China’s role in ensuring equity of access to AI capacity building for developing countries in order to prevent the creation of “new historical injustices” in AI. The Chinese president also emphasised the importance of a “people-centred” approach to the development of AI technology. His presence at the gathering, attended by scores of tech and government leaders, conveys a potent signal of [China’s ambitions to dominate a technological sphere](https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/international/china-prepares-two-trillion-yuan-plan-fund-nationwide-ai-build-out) with the potential to revolutionise industry and economies – an effort that is shot to the top of the nation’s agenda. Chinese models are winning over companies worldwide, with their share of US firms’ AI usage nearing a record 60 per cent on the popular marketplace OpenRouter. Behind the rhetoric, Beijing is grappling with the balance between openness and national security as models grow more capable. Chinese officials recently discussed with companies including Alibaba Group – developer of the popular Qwen models – how to mitigate the security risks posed by their increasingly powerful models, people familiar with the matter said. The talks are early, with no enforcement planned, but restricting foreign access to top models was among the options raised, the people said. Reuters previously reported that Beijing was weighing curbs on overseas access. Alibaba and the Commerce Ministry did not respond to requests for comment. Global AI governance has emerged as a new battleground for the world’s leading powers. With the cybersecurity threat of cutting-edge AI looming large over both countries, Washington has in recent weeks pressured prominent American labs such as Anthropic to curtail foreign access to advanced models. China is looking to build its own AI ecosystem that offers its citizens and global customers a [cheaper alternative to US technology](https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/companies-markets/telcos-media-tech/ais-token-economy-revolution-creates-new-china-tech-winners). It also wants to secure its own AI supply chain that can guarantee access for its companies and government agencies. As part of this effort, Beijing has earmarked two trillion yuan over the next five years to creating a network of interconnected data centres across the country, Bloomberg News reported in June. Beijing is expected to mobilise its institutions and enact supportive policies to fire up an industry considered key to countering the US, while weaning the local market off American technologies that Washington is restricting access to. That effort relies on the sustained growth and advancement of national champions including Nvidia-rival Huawei Technologies, memory chip linchpin CXMT and pioneering AI labs such as DeepSeek. The overarching plan represents Beijing’s most aggressive endeavour yet to lay the foundation for future Chinese AI development. It recalls the undertakings of years past that channelled resources to support national champions like Huawei, with the aim of replacing US technology. But the venture pales in comparison to the US$725 billion that US leaders such as Meta Platforms and Microsoft are setting aside for AI in 2026 alone. Chinese data centres in general cost less than in the US because of cheaper labour, component and construction costs, and local government incentives. In May, Xi hosted US President Donald Trump and discussed AI guardrails and Nvidia’s H200 chips, which are starting to trickle into China after a government ban. Xi and Trump are due to meet again in September, with the AI race top of the agenda. The Chinese president also announced the country’s plans to cooperate with numerous international bodies, including from Africa, Latin America, Asia and Brics countries, to provide AI-related opportunities. BLOOMBERG, REUTERS Decoding Asia newsletter: your guide to navigating Asia in a new global order. Sign up here to get Decoding Asia newsletter. Delivered to your inbox. Free. Share with us your feedback on BT's products and services [TRENDING NOW](/pulse?ref=trending-now) GovTech layoffs: ‘No one is safe’ or ‘No one is to blame’? A new kind of ‘ceasefire’ between US and Iran where talks, strikes are part of the same process RTS Link could cause S$290 million net increase in outflow annually for Singapore: study Hin Leong’s US$2.6 billion claim against Deloitte struck out by apex court