Chinese President Xi Jinping took the spotlight at Saturday’s APEC leaders’ meeting, calling for the creation of a global organization to oversee artificial intelligence (AI) and positioning China as a counterweight to the United States on trade and technology cooperation.
The proposal marked Xi’s first public remarks on the initiative that Beijing introduced earlier this year, amid Washington’s opposition to establishing international AI governance frameworks.
Xi suggested forming a World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization, which would set global governance standards and foster collaboration, describing AI as a “public good for the international community.”
“Artificial intelligence is of great significance for future development and should serve the interests of people across all countries and regions,” Xi said, according to state news agency Xinhua. Chinese officials have proposed Shanghai as the potential headquarters for the new body.
U.S. President Donald Trump skipped the APEC leaders’ summit in Gyeongju, South Korea, returning to Washington after a bilateral meeting with Xi. That meeting produced a one-year deal easing some trade and technology restrictions, signaling a temporary thaw in tensions between the world’s two largest economies.
In Trump’s absence, Xi used the APEC platform to promote China’s vision of inclusive, multilateral economic cooperation.
While U.S. firm Nvidia remains central to the global AI boom with its advanced chips, China’s DeepSeek has developed more affordable AI models, supporting Beijing’s push for “algorithmic sovereignty.”
Xi also urged APEC members to encourage the “free circulation” of green technologies — including batteries and solar panels — sectors in which China holds a dominant position.
At the summit, APEC members adopted a joint declaration and agreements on AI governance and ageing populations.
China will host the 2026 APEC Summit in Shenzhen, a major hub for robotics, electric vehicles, and high-tech manufacturing. Xi highlighted Shenzhen’s transformation from a small fishing village into a thriving metropolis after becoming one of China’s first special economic zones in the 1980s.
APEC, which brings together 21 member economies, serves as a consultative forum representing around half of global trade.
