BEIJING, Nov 02 (V7N) — Chinese President Xi Jinping took center stage at the APEC leaders’ meeting in Gyeongju, South Korea, on Saturday to advocate for the creation of a global body to govern artificial intelligence, positioning China as a potential alternative to the United States in trade and economic cooperation.

Addressing the summit, Xi proposed the establishment of a World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization that would set governance standards and enhance international collaboration, framing AI as a “public good for the international community.” Speaking through the official Xinhua news agency, Xi emphasized, “Artificial intelligence is of great significance for future development and should be made for the benefit of people in all countries and regions.” Chinese officials have indicated that the organization could be headquartered in Shanghai.

U.S. President Donald Trump did not attend the APEC summit, returning to Washington after a bilateral meeting with Xi. Their discussions resulted in a one-year agreement to partially ease trade and technology restrictions that had escalated tensions between the two largest global economies. In Trump’s absence, analysts had anticipated Xi would use the forum to promote China’s model of multilateral cooperation on trade and economic development.

While advanced AI chips produced by California-based Nvidia remain central to the global AI boom, Chinese developers such as DeepSeek have launched lower-cost AI models, supporting Beijing’s drive for “algorithmic sovereignty.” Xi also encouraged APEC members to promote the free flow of green technologies, including batteries and solar panels, areas where China maintains a dominant position.

The APEC summit concluded with a joint declaration and agreements addressing artificial intelligence and the challenges of aging populations. China is set to host the 2026 APEC summit in Shenzhen, a major hub for robotics, electric vehicles, and other manufacturing industries. Xi noted that Shenzhen, now a metropolis of nearly 18 million, transformed from a small fishing village into one of China’s first special economic zones in the 1980s.

APEC, a consultative forum of 21 nations, represents roughly half of global trade and serves as a platform for dialogue on economic and trade cooperation across the Asia-Pacific region.

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