China Aims to Leverage AI for Shared Prosperity Amid Disparities

The annual monsoon season in Pakistan signifies the urgent need for precise weather forecasts to safeguard lives and livelihoods. Leveraging artificial intelligence, China's MAZU meteorological system supports Pakistan in identifying early warning signs and issuing timely alerts for potential extreme weather events. As Furrukh Bashir, head of the Research and Development Department at the Pakistan Meteorological Department, explains, this innovative platform allows for more accurate predictions regarding floods, droughts, and other extreme weather phenomena.

The MAZU system's deployment in various nations exemplifies AI's potential to tackle global challenges. China actively promotes global access to artificial intelligence through collaborative technological efforts and international initiatives. During the 2026 World Artificial Intelligence Conference in Shanghai, President Xi Jinping emphasized the importance of a human-centered approach, urging nations to work together in establishing a fair and inclusive global AI governance system.

Reflecting on China's commitment as a responsible major power, Xi reaffirmed Beijing's dedication to providing international public goods in AI. At the conference, he announced significant initiatives to bolster global AI development, such as assisting 30 nations in utilizing the MAZU system, offering 5,000 AI training positions in developing countries over the next five years, and establishing international cooperation centers for AI applications alongside organizations like ASEAN, the Arab League, the African Union, and BRICS.

China's focus on open-source development aims to encourage more inclusive global growth in AI. Models like DeepSeek and Alibaba's Qwen have gained international attention due to their efficiency and affordability, enabling developers and companies to adopt AI technologies at reduced costs. Reports indicate that China's open-source AI models recently surpassed 10 billion cumulative downloads globally.

In Africa, the open-source strategy of DeepSeek empowers developers to freely download and modify AI systems, enhancing local digital competencies and fostering independent innovations across the continent. This initiative has significantly lowered costs; with input token rates as low as 0.27 USD per million tokens, DeepSeek has reduced barriers by over 90% compared to many conventional Western AI models, thereby expanding access for numerous African users and businesses.

Zhang Weiwei, deputy director of the World Peace and Security Studies Institute at the Chinese Institute of International Studies, noted that China, as a developing country, comprehends the aspirations of many nations in the Global South for economic development and technological advancement. He stated that China's open-source AI models facilitate faster and more cost-efficient application development, allowing more developing nations to reap the benefits of technological progress.

As AI technology evolves rapidly, the global AI gap continues to widen. According to the World Bank's 'Digital Progress and Trends Report 2025,' significant disparities exist between high-income and middle- to low-income countries regarding AI systems and computing power. Furthermore, resources for data centers remain concentrated in industrialized nations, with less than 1% of global capacity allocated to Africa.

To address these disparities, Xi Jinping called on countries to assist developing nations in enhancing their AI capabilities, bridging the digital divide, and establishing a universally recognized regulatory framework to ensure new technologies benefit humanity as a whole.

China has long advocated for a fair and inclusive global regulatory system for artificial intelligence. In 2023, China proposed the ‘Global AI Governance Initiative,’ followed by the ‘AI Capacity-Building Action Plan for Good and for All’ in 2024 and the ‘AI+ International Cooperation Initiative’ in 2025. These efforts are designed to promote responsible AI development and contribute to closing the digital divide.

Additionally, China has pushed for the creation of platforms for international collaboration. The establishment of the ‘Center for Global AI Innovative Governance’ (CGAIG) and the ‘Group of Friends for International Cooperation on AI Capacity Building’ aims to bring countries together to enhance dialogue, share knowledge, and facilitate capacity-building efforts.

The recent signing of the agreement to form the ‘World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization’ in Shanghai marks yet another step toward fostering global AI collaboration and supporting the secure, equitable, and beneficial advancement of artificial intelligence.

Through initiatives ranging from open-source models and AI training programs to global governance frameworks, China is striving to position AI as a collective engine for innovation and development, ensuring that the advantages of this transformative technology extend to more nations and communities worldwide.