Xi Jinping says China will expand AI cooperation with developing countries, warns against security risks and “overreach”

Chinese President Xi Jinping on July 17 said China plans to expand artificial intelligence cooperation with developing countries, including through training and seminar programs, while warning that AI also poses risks tied to security and improper governance, according to remarks reported at a China-hosted AI summit.

Xi said China would offer 5,000 opportunities related to AI training and seminar programs for developing countries, framing the effort as capacity-building that would help countries participate in AI development and cooperation. The remarks positioned China’s approach as partnership-oriented rather than closed-off, with the goal of increasing practical engagement for countries that have less experience developing and regulating AI systems.

In the same address, Xi also called for attention to “risks” related to AI and warned against forms of security overreach, according to the report. The comments did not specify particular incidents or countries in the summary provided, but they indicated that China intends to link future AI cooperation to broader concerns about how AI governance can affect national security and international stability.

The report also says Xi described plans to develop AI cooperation with various “blocs,” indicating China is seeking multilateral frameworks rather than only bilateral arrangements. That approach would allow China to structure cooperation through groupings of states, though the summary did not identify which blocs were referenced or what mechanisms would be used.

Separately, Chinese officials and summit participants are expected to treat the AI programs and cooperation frameworks as an extension of broader diplomatic and development efforts, with training and seminars aimed at government, research, and industry audiences. The stated focus on developing countries underscores how AI capacity-building is increasingly tied to foreign policy and economic engagement.

The July 17 remarks come as governments worldwide are debating how to manage AI deployment, including questions about safety, surveillance, data access, and the security implications of cross-border AI collaboration. Against that backdrop, Xi’s emphasis on security risks and overreach suggests Beijing intends to set conditions for cooperation and to highlight constraints it believes should apply to external AI influence.

It was not immediately clear from the report summary what specific deliverables are planned beyond the announced training and seminar opportunities, or what oversight standards China would propose. The next steps would likely involve implementation details, including which institutions receive program slots, what curricula are used, and how cooperation with different groupings is operationalized.