China calls for open AI cooperation and rejects ‘digital iron curtains’

Li Qiang backs openness and shared security

Chinese Premier Li Qiang said China would respect the legitimate cybersecurity concerns of other countries while working with them to address security challenges, according to the Global Times report distributed by PR Newswire. He made the remarks in a keynote speech at the summit’s opening ceremony in Wuzhen, Zhejiang Province.

Li called for joint efforts to build a community with a shared future in cyberspace. He said China would continue pursuing innovation through openness, promoting technology transfer and knowledge sharing, and working with other countries to create an open, inclusive and dynamic digital innovation ecosystem.

The summit is running from Monday to Thursday, with artificial intelligence and open-source cooperation at the center of discussions about innovation, security governance and international cooperation.

Summit puts global AI cooperation in focus

This year’s event includes an “AI Wuzhen Dialogue,” bringing together executives from global technology companies, open-source AI model developers and AI scientists. The program also features 27 sub-forums covering subjects including cyberspace cooperation, digital intelligence policies, robotics and embodied intelligence.

According to the WIC’s website, a collection of cases related to building a community with a shared future in cyberspace received more than 360 submissions from over 80 countries and regions. Eleven cases were selected. The WIC Awards for Pioneering Science and Technology received more than 430 technological achievements from 43 countries and regions, with 20 projects receiving awards.

The summit’s Light of Internet Expo featured more than 1,000 technology products from 671 companies across 54 countries and regions, the Emirates News Agency reported.

Participants point to cooperation despite competition

International participants interviewed by the Global Times highlighted China’s AI ecosystem, digital infrastructure and potential areas for cooperation. Debora Comparin, co-chair for TIDA, or Trust and Identity for Humans and Agentic AI, at the International Telecommunication Union, said she was interested in China’s progress in agentic AI and its capabilities across chip manufacturing and model training.

Comparin also said cooperation between China and the United States was essential for AI development, particularly in open source and standardization. “China and the US are both leading countries in AI, and absolutely need constructive cooperation,” she said.

Other participants pointed to opportunities between China and developing economies. Lilan Dayananda, a social-tech entrepreneur from Sri Lanka, said local software engineers could work with Chinese companies, while Chinese software and AI solutions could be applied in Sri Lanka. He described the relationship between competition and cooperation as “positive competition.”

Why the message matters for AI access

The summit’s discussions frame openness and shared benefits as responses to concerns that AI could widen the digital divide. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said internet technologies should improve people’s capabilities and well-being rather than deepen divisions in human development.

China’s stated approach combines open innovation and technology sharing with cooperation on cybersecurity. The Global Times report said participants also emphasized open-source technologies, common standards and practical AI applications. The debate highlights the unresolved challenge of expanding access to AI while countries compete over technology, infrastructure and security.