China seeks closer US links on scientific research, use of AI in education

Call from Chinese education vice-minister Chen Jie comes during meeting with NYU president Linda G. Mills

Mills pledges firm support for NYU’s Shanghai campus, looks forward to closer scientific research cooperation with China

Reading Time:2 minutes

China seeks to integrate AI in traditional sectors, including higher education, to stimulate innovation so it does not fall behind in the global AI race. Photo: Shutterstock

Published: 7:25pm, 14 Mar 2024Updated: 7:45pm, 14 Mar 2024

China has urged closer cooperation with the United States in scientific research and the use of artificial intelligence in education, while boosting youth exchanges.

The call from China’s education vice-minister Chen Jie came as he met New York University president Linda G. Mills in Beijing earlier this week.

“[We] welcome more outstanding students from NYU to come to China for study and exchange,” Chen told Mills, according to a readout published on the education ministry website on Thursday.

Beijing is under growing pressure from US technology curbs amid an intense geopolitical rivalry with Washington with AI as one of the main battle fronts, and has called for more international cooperation in the field in recent years.

“[We are] willing to bring 50,000 young Americans to China for exchange and study in the next five years,” Chen said, inviting NYU to participate in the initiative announced by Chinese President Xi Jinping last year.

The announcement from Xi – during a much-awaited summit in San Francisco with his US counterpart Joe Biden in November – followed an agreement to expand educational, cultural and business exchanges as the two countries sought ways to reverse a prolonged downward spiral in relations.