Xi Jinping Takes Direct Role, 'Selling' AI to Developing Nations

Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia – China appears keen to expand the use of AI by courting developing countries (the Global South) as partners in AI development. President Xi Jinping has taken a personal hand in carrying out this plan.

One initiative is a training and seminar programme on AI, with around 5,000 opportunities offered to developing countries.

China is also developing technology cooperation across various regions, namely Southeast Asia, the Arab League and the African Union.

“China is willing to work with all parties to seize opportunities and address challenges in AI development with a more open attitude, more pragmatic actions and a long-term vision,” Xi said at the World AI Conference in Shanghai, quoted by CNBC International on Tuesday (21 July 2026).

He added that AI development does not belong to one country alone. Rather, it requires international cooperation, and China stands ready to adopt a more visionary perspective.

Beyond that, Xi also urged strengthening awareness of AI risks and safety, including ensuring the technology is secure and controllable, and remains under human control.

Xi further expressed hope that other countries would reject the concept of excessive national security in the AI field, or the notion of placing one country’s security above that of other nations.

The announcement was made as relations between China and the United States, the two countries dominating AI development, remain highly fraught. The US in particular has taken several steps to obstruct China’s access to advanced technology, frequently citing national security as its rationale.

One such step was placing Huawei on the Commerce Department’s Entity List in 2019. In 2022, the Biden administration introduced export controls to limit China’s ability to buy advanced computing chips and manufacture advanced semiconductors.