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TechPolicy

Xi Jinping warns against creating ‘new historical injustices’ in AI era

Chinese leader’s presence at World AI Conference signals Beijing’s push to elevate AI from tech priority to pillar of geopolitical strategy

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Chinese President Xi Jinping arrives for a group photo with other attendees before the opening ceremony for the World AI Conference in Shanghai on Friday. Photo: AP
Sylvia Main ShanghaiandHoward Liuin Beijing

President Xi Jinping warned against creating “new historical injustices” in the era of artificial intelligence on Friday, calling for greater support for the technology’s use and adoption in the Global South and a more open, inclusive approach to AI development.

Addressing the 2026 World Artificial Intelligence Conference in Shanghai, Xi’s speech came shortly after his US counterpart, Donald Trump, delivered an unprecedented attack against Beijing during a prime-time national broadcast, accusing China of orchestrating the “largest compromise of election data in history”.

Xi also urged countries to strengthen risk awareness and ensure that AI is “secure and controllable”, while taking aim at the growing securitisation of the technology, at the opening ceremony of China’s largest annual event for the AI industry.

“We should jointly oppose overstretching the national security concept in the field of AI or placing one country’s security over that of others,” he said.

Xi’s speech, his first in-person appearance at the event since its launch in 2018, was viewed as a signal of Beijing’s intention to lead global AI governance amid an intensifying US-China tech rivalry.

The Chinese leader’s message also positioned Beijing as an advocate of a more open approach to AI development, at a time when access to advanced technologies is increasingly constrained by export controls and corporate blacklists.

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