Around 60 countries, including China, have signed a Statement on Inclusive and Sustainable Artificial Intelligence for People and the Planet at the conclusion of the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Action Summit in Paris. The summit, held on February 10 and 11, focused on fostering AI that is human-centric, ethical, safe, secure, and trustworthy.
The signatories agreed that the summit established an open, inclusive approach to AI development, aiming to promote public interest and bridge digital divides. The priorities outlined include promoting AI accessibility, ensuring transparency and ethical standards, encouraging innovation, supporting AI deployment in labor markets, and making AI sustainable for people and the planet.
Zhang Guoqing, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and a vice premier of the State Council, attended the summit as Chinese President Xi Jinping’s special representative. He stated, “China is willing to work with other countries to promote development, safeguard security, share achievements in the field of AI, and jointly build a community with a shared future for mankind.”
Despite U.S. Vice President JD Vance delivering a keynote speech at the summit, the United States chose not to sign the statement. While French President Emmanuel Macron emphasized the need for global regulation on AI governance, Vance cautioned that excessive regulation could “kill a transformative sector just as it’s taking off.”
The summit addressed five major themes: Public Interest AI, Future of Work, Innovation and Culture, Trust in AI, and Global AI Governance. Participants underscored the importance of leveraging AI to accelerate progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian expressed China’s commitment to international collaboration during a press conference on February 7. “We look forward to enhancing communication and cooperation with all parties through participation in this summit, building consensus, and actively promoting the implementation of the United Nations’ Global Digital Compact,” Lin said. He also extended an invitation to the upcoming 2025 World Artificial Intelligence Conference in China to further shape a globally recognized AI governance framework.
The Paris summit marks a significant step toward global cooperation in AI, highlighting the shared responsibility of nations to ensure that AI technologies benefit all of humanity.
