Excellencies,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

In today's world, artificial intelligence is advancing at an unprecedented pace, and is being widely integrated across economic and social sectors. The advent of AI is reshaping the very paradigm of human life and holds profound significance for the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

In this context, the global governance of artificial intelligence must keep pace with the times. It is precisely for this reason that this Group of Friends was established, and has since grown from strength to strength. 

Over the past two years since its establishment, our Group has convened four open meetings and organized three AI capacity-building workshops in China, bringing together nearly 200 representatives from member states. 

These efforts have allowed participants to witness firsthand the dynamic momentum of AI development. And through various projects, they have strengthened South-South and triangular cooperation, turning digital transformation and capacity-building into tangible results.

At the end of this month, our Group, in collaboration with UN DESA, will co-host in Zhejiang, China a Regional Workshop on Strengthening AI Capabilities and Governance for Sustainable Digital Transformation in Africa and Asia-Pacific. 

Looking ahead, China and Zambia will continue to solicit broad input from member states, mobilize more resources, and deepen practical cooperation within the Group of Friends, so as to build greater consensus and ensure that AI development remains for good and for all.

In this connection, China wishes to share three points:

First, we should uphold a people-centered and innovation-driven approach to empower industries through the AI+ application. Our goal is to ensure that people around the world can equally share the digital dividends brought by AI. To this end, we should work together to advance AI+ initiatives in areas such as public well-being, technological advancement, industrial application, cultural prosperity, and talent cultivation, so as to deliver real benefits to our peoples.

Second, we should focus on real results and make full use of this Group of Friends as a platform for practical cooperation. We should promote open-source and accessible AI technologies and strengthen international cooperation in computing power, data, and talent.

Third, we should uphold multilateralism and pursue extensive consultation, joint contribution, and shared benefits in AI development. We support the United Nations in playing its central role in this regard. Through the joint efforts of the Group of Friends, we should advance the Scientific Panel on AI and the Global Dialogue on AI Governance to foster broad consensus and deliver practical outcomes. It is essential that all countries, especially those from the Global South, can effectively participate in global governance, and that AI does not become a game of the rich countries and the wealthy.

Dear Colleagues and Friends,

China is committed to building a community with a shared future for humanity and to actively advancing the Global Governance Initiative and the Global AI Governance Initiative proposed by President Xi Jinping. 

As a longstanding contributor to global development and a provider of public goods, China has put forward and advanced a number of initiatives, such as the AI Capacity-Building Action Plan for Good and for All, the Global AI Governance Action Plan, and the AI+ International Cooperation Initiative.

We stand ready to work with all parties to turn those visions into reality, and to ensure that the benefits of AI development are shared more broadly and equitably across the world.

Thank you.