China unveils Global AI Governance Action Plan two days after US strategy
China released its Action Plan for Global Governance of Artificial Intelligence on 26 July 2025, just two days after the United States published its own AI action plan. The Chinese plan outlines a multilateral framework to guide the development, deployment, and governance of AI technologies.
China announced its Global AI Governance Action Plan on 26 July 2025, during the World Artificial Intelligence Conference in Shanghai, only two days after the United States introduced its own plan. This timing highlights a growing global effort to shape how AI is governed, particularly in response to its expanding role across economies, societies, and international systems.
The Chinese action plan frames AI as both an international public good and a potential source of risk, calling for coordinated global governance rooted in inclusivity, fairness, and security. It aligns with the UN’ Compact for the Future and its annexe, the Global Digital Compact, and proposes 13 areas of action.
Key measures include accelerating digital infrastructure, especially in the Global South, promoting responsible innovation, and supporting open-source ecosystems. The plan also encourages global standards for data sharing and technical interoperability, alongside the development of safeguards for privacy, environmental impact, and algorithmic bias.
China emphasises the role of the public sector in setting a responsible example for AI deployment, particularly in healthcare, education, and transportation. It calls for international cooperation on risk assessment, safety standards, and capacity development, including AI literacy and training programs for underserved groups.
While the US strategy focuses on promoting American AI models and resisting state-level restrictions, China’s plan places greater emphasis on multilateralism and developmental equity.
