President.

I thank Secretary of State Antony Blinken for presiding over this meeting. I thank Secretary-General António Guterres for the important statement, and thank Professor Yann LeCun and Professor Fei-Fei Li for their briefings. 

At present, with the development of AI accelerating and its role as an enabler ever increasing, AI has become an important force to promote social development and progress. AI technology is like a double-edged sword, which could become a conducive force for social governance and international security or become a source of threats to fairness and justice and a source of danger to peace and stability. The international community should jointly strengthen the global AI governance to ensure that AI development is in conformity with the common values of mankind and that AI is truly safe, reliable, fair, and under control. 

China has been exploring the scientific path of AI development and governance in a responsible manner. As early as 2017, the Chinese government issued the development plan for the new generation of AI, clearly indicating the need to address the double-edged attributes of AI, with a view to preventing risks to the greatest possible extent. In 2021 China released the code of ethics for the new generation of AI, integrating ethics into the entire life cycle of AI. In 2023 the Chinese government issued the world’s first ever legislative document on generative AI. 

China has been constructively engaged in the global governance of AI. In October last year, President Xi Jinping proposed the Global AI Governance Initiative, comprehensively illustrating China’s position from three dimensions of development, security, and governance. The resolution on enhancing international cooperation on capacity building of AI tabled by China was adopted by consensus at the 78th session of the General Assembly. Later on, China proposed the action plan on AI capacity building for good and for all, and promoted the establishment of the Group of Friends for international cooperation on AI capacity building. Recently, at the G20 Summit in Rio de Janeiro, President Xi Jinping stressed the need to strengthen international governance and cooperation on AI and ensure that AI works for good and for all, rather than becoming a game for the rich and the powerful. Under the framework of BRICS, China and other members agreed on the establishment of an AI study group for information exchange and technological cooperation, with a view to formulating AI governance framework, norms, and standards.

On the military application of AI, an issue with significant implications on the future and destiny of mankind, China has demonstrated its vision and sense of responsibility as a responsible major country. In 2021 China submitted to the The Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons a position paper on regulating the military use of AI. We maintain that all countries, major powers in particular, should adopt a prudent and responsible attitude in the military development and use of AI technology, comprehensively assess the pros and cons as well as consequences, and respect in real earnest the security concerns of other countries, so as to avoid misunderstanding and miscalculations and prevent arms races. It is imperative to constantly improve the safety, reliability, and controllability of the relevant technologies to ensure that they are under human control and to oppose the misuse, abuse, and proliferation of such weapons systems. Not long ago, the heads of state of China and the United States, at their meeting in Lima, recalled the dialogue and cooperation between the two countries in the field of AI and affirmed the need to address the risks of AI systems, to improve AI security, and to enhance international cooperation for AI to be for good and for all. Both leaders stressed that a prudent and responsible attitude must be adopted in developing AI technology in the military field. Both leaders stressed the need to maintain human control over the decision to use nuclear weapons. 

The law of scientific development has shown that in order to solve problems in scientific knowledge and progress, one should neither stay idle without even trying, nor stop eating for fear of choking. In view of the rapid development and use of AI technology, China has the following proposals for the international community. 

First, establishing clear guidelines. Security and development must be given equal attention. Smart governance must be in place, enabling better anticipation and control of risks on the one hand, and encouraging technological innovation and peaceful use on the other. It is imperative to abide by the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, observe the basic norms governing international relations, and ensure that AI technology will not become a tool for waging wars and pursuing hegemony. It is imperative to follow the people-centered approach, abide by international humanitarian law and ethics, ensure human dignity and human rights, and refrain from indiscriminate use, abuse, or misuse of such technologies. 

Second, improving governance measures. It is necessary to actively develop reasonable and feasible technologies for AI governance, establish risk assessment and testing systems, and conduct hierarchical management by category. Relevant laws, rules, and regulations must be in place. Education and training targeting practitioners must be strengthened. Prevention on both the human front and the technological front must go hand in hand to prevent systematic risks brought by hacker attacks or data fraud, among others, and reduce the proliferation risk of AI’s military use. 

Third, strengthening international cooperation. AI technology is not a cake for a small group of people, nor should its global governance be determined by just a small number of countries. China firmly opposes the practice of imposing on others the rules formulated by a small number of countries or creating small circles targeting certain countries. China firmly opposes discriminatory barriers based on ideological differences, which undermine the right of all countries, developing countries in particular, to use emerging technologies on an equal footing. Decoupling and building small yard with high fence runs counter to the laws of market economy, undermines the international economic order, and disrupts the stability of the global production and supply chains. Only by learning from each other, implementing joint governance for good and for all, seeking the greatest common denominator, and expanding cooperation, can we embark on the right path. 

With the widening technology divide, digital divide, and AI divide between the North and the South, it is important to uphold cooperation, enhance the representation and voice of developing countries, and implement the Global Digital Compact, so that AI technology could benefit the developing countries, In this regard, as the most universal, representative, and authoritative intergovernmental, organization, the UN should become the main channel for global AI governance and coordinate major issues related to the development and security of AI.

As a major country on AI, China stands ready to actively support the relevant work of the UN and contribute to the establishment of governance norms with universal participation and broad consensus.

Thank you, President.