Shanghai (ANTARA\/PRNewswire) \u2013 As Pakistan enters its annual monsoon\nseason, the ability to forecast the weather accurately is crucial for\nprotecting public safety and reducing the impact on livelihoods. Thanks\nto artificial intelligence (AI), the MAZU meteorological system\ndeveloped by China is now helping Pakistan detect potential extreme\nweather earlier and deliver warnings more promptly.<\/p>\n
\u201cUsing this platform, we can predict floods, droughts and various\nother extreme weather events more accurately,\u201d said Furrukh Bashir, head\nof the Research and Development Department at the Pakistan\nMeteorological Department. \u201cWe hope more innovations like this can be\nutilised by communities in many countries.\u201d<\/p>\n
The deployment of the MAZU system in a number of countries\ndemonstrates how AI can be harnessed to address global challenges.\nThrough open-source AI models, technological cooperation and various\ninternational initiatives, China is working to widen access to AI\ntechnology so that its benefits can reach an ever-growing number of\ncountries.<\/p>\n
Opening the World Artificial Intelligence Conference 2026 and the\nHigh-Level Meeting on Global AI Governance in Shanghai on Friday,\nChinese President Xi Jinping urged all nations to put people first and\nto work together to build a fair and inclusive global AI governance\nframework.<\/p>\n
\u201cChina, as a responsible major country, is always committed to\nproviding international public goods in the field of AI,\u201d Xi said.<\/p>\n
Opening Up AI Access as a Shared Opportunity<\/p>\n
At the event, Xi announced a number of measures to strengthen global\nAI development. These include assistance for 30 countries in using the\nMAZU meteorological system, providing 5,000 AI training opportunities\nfor developing countries over the next five years, and establishing an\ninternational cooperation centre for joint AI applications with ASEAN,\nthe Arab League, the African Union, the Community of Latin American and\nCaribbean States (CELAC), the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO)\nand BRICS.<\/p>\n
In addition, China continues to promote the development of\nopen-source AI models as part of efforts to create a more inclusive\nglobal AI ecosystem.<\/p>\n
Chinese AI models such as DeepSeek and Alibaba\u2019s Qwen have attracted\nwidespread attention for offering high efficiency, more affordable costs\nand openness. This combination helps developers and businesses adopt AI\ntechnology at lower cost. Official data shows that cumulative global\ndownloads of Chinese open-source AI models have now surpassed 10\nbillion.<\/p>\n
In Africa, for example, DeepSeek\u2019s open-source approach enables\ndevelopers to download, modify and refine AI systems according to their\nneeds. The approach also strengthens local digital capacity while\nfostering innovation developed by local talent.<\/p>\n
In terms of cost, these models are considered far more efficient.\nWith pricing of just US$0.27 per million input tokens and US$1.10 per\nmillion output tokens, DeepSeek cuts cost barriers by more than 90 per\ncent compared with a number of widely used Western AI models. This opens\nup greater opportunities for businesses and users across Africa to take\npart in digital transformation.<\/p>\n
\u201cChina, as a developing country, understands the aspirations of many\nnations in the Global South to accelerate economic development and\ntechnological progress,\u201d said Zhang Weiwei, Deputy Director of the\nInstitute for World Peace and Security Studies at the China Institute of\nInternational Studies.<\/p>\n
According to Zhang, the open-source AI models developed by China help\nvarious countries build AI applications more quickly and at lower cost,\nallowing more developing nations to enjoy the benefits of technological\nadvancement.<\/p>\n
Promoting Global Cooperation to Close the AI Divide<\/p>\n
The rapid development of AI has been accompanied by a widening gap in\nAI capabilities between nations. The World Bank\u2019s Digital Progress and\nTrends Report 2025 shows a significant divide persists between\nhigh-income countries and low- and middle-income countries, both in AI\nsystems development and computing capacity. Meanwhile, global data\ncentre capacity remains concentrated in developed countries, with Africa\npossessing less than 1 per cent of the world\u2019s total capacity.<\/p>\n
To address this divide, Xi called on all nations to help developing\ncountries strengthen their AI capacity, narrow the digital gap, and\nbuild a widely acceptable global governance framework so that new\ntechnology genuinely benefits all of humanity.<\/p>\n
Over recent years, China has consistently pushed for a fairer and\nmore inclusive global AI governance framework. In 2023, China launched\nthe Global AI Governance Initiative, followed by the AI\nCapacity-Building Action Plan for Good and for All in 2024 and the AI+\nInternational Cooperation Initiative in 2025. These initiatives aim to\npromote responsible AI development and narrow the digital divide.<\/p>\n
China has also expanded international cooperation through the\nestablishment of the Centre for Global AI Innovative Governance (CGAIG)\nand the Group of Friends for International Cooperation on AI Capacity\nBuilding. Both platforms serve as venues for countries to strengthen\ndialogue, share knowledge and enhance AI capacity.<\/p>\n
The signing of the agreement establishing the World Artificial\nIntelligence Cooperation Organisation in Shanghai last Thursday marks\nthe next important step in strengthening global collaboration while\npromoting the development of AI that is safe, fair and beneficial for\nall.<\/p>\n
Through developing open-source AI models, running training programmes\nand pursuing various global governance initiatives, China aims to make\nartificial intelligence a driver of innovation and shared development.\nThe goal is that the benefits of this transformative technology, which\nhave so far been enjoyed mostly by a handful of players, can reach more\ncountries and communities around the world.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/china-committed-to-making-ai-a-driver-of-shared-prosperity-amid-widening-global-ai-gap-1784519592", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }