Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning’s Regular Press Conference on July 2, 2024

Premier Li Qiang of the State Council will attend the opening ceremony of the 2024 World AI Conference and High-Level Meeting on Global AI Governance and deliver a speech on July 4 in Shanghai.

Dragon TV: You announced that Premier Li Qiang will attend the 2024 World AI Conference and High-Level Meeting on Global AI Governance in Shanghai. Can you share more details?

Mao Ning: The rapid development of AI technology in recent years brings a multitude of risks and challenges as well as enormous socioeconomic benefits. Global AI governance has become a major task for all countries.

China advocates the principles of wide participation and consensus-based decision-making in global AI governance, and promotes broad international consensus based on full respect for differences in policies and practices of all countries. The World AI Conference has been held annually six times. The Conference this year, with the theme of Governing AI for Good and for All, aims to establish international cooperation and exchange platforms featuring openness, inclusiveness, and equal participation, advance global AI governance and develop an open, fair and effective governance mechanism.

The Conference brings together government officials, and representatives of international organizations, industries, universities and research institutes, among others. We look forward to full exchange of insights in Shanghai in the spirit of extensive consultation and joint contribution for shared benefit, to build consensus and promote the healthy, safe and orderly development of AI.

Beijing Daily: NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said that NATO views China’s behaviors as challenging the alliance’s values, interests and security. Russia is producing missiles and drones with the support of advanced technology imported from China, which makes Beijing accountable for instigating the largest conflict on the European soils since World War II. What’s your comment?

Mao Ning: I’m not sure what exactly he meant by NATO’s values. But if the values are to draw lines based on ideology and to create conflicts, stoke confrontation and escalate tensions along those lines, then China indeed cannot agree with it. The reality is, it is NATO that has been challenging China, interfering in China’s domestic affairs, misrepresenting and vilifying our domestic and foreign policies and seriously challenging China’s interests and security.

Speaking of the Ukraine crisis, China has been committed to promoting talks for peace and finding a political solution to the crisis. NATO needs to see the root cause of the crisis and take a hard look at what kind of role it has played for the peace of Europe and the world, rather than divert the attention and blame it all on others.

CCTV: We’ve learned that the resolution entitled “Enhancing international cooperation on capacity-building of artificial intelligence” submitted by China was reviewed and adopted by the 78th session of the UN General Assembly. Can you give us more details?

Mao Ning: The 78th session of the UNGA yesterday adopted by consensus the resolution “Enhancing international cooperation on capacity-building of artificial intelligence” proposed by China and co-sponsored by over 140 countries. The resolution reflects the extensive consensus among countries on enhancing AI capacity-building and speaks volumes about the political will of countries on enhancing capacity-building and bridging the AI divide through solidarity and cooperation.

The resolution, in line with the human-centric principle and the principle of artificial intelligence for good for all, is focused on AI capacity-building, stresses the importance of increasing the representation and say of developing countries in global AI governance, advocates a fair and nondiscriminatory business environment, supports the United Nations in playing a central role, encourages effective capacity-building assistance for developing countries through international cooperation and concrete actions, so as to realize the healthy and sustainable development of AI.

As the country that introduced the resolution, China followed the principles of transparency, openness, and inclusiveness during the discussions of the Resolution, widely accommodated legitimate opinions and suggestions, and strived to bridge the differences among all parties. China’s efforts were spoken highly of by all the member states. The adoption of the resolution reflects that the international community and particularly developing countries are paying great attention to capacity-building, and have the strong will of actively participating in global AI governance. China highly commends all the member states for their tremendous support for the resolution, and for their important contribution to its adoption. China will take this adopted resolution as an opportunity to step up communication and cooperation with the international community, follow up on the implementation of the resolution, assist relevant countries in faster development of related capacities under the UN framework, so as to help achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals for 2030 and jointly build a community with a shared future for mankind.

Reuters: Yesterday, the Chinese Embassy and the Vanuatu government held a ceremony to hand over the government buildings that China had built. And the new Solomon Islands’ Prime Minister is visiting China recently. Could you please speak to the strategic importance of these connections with the Pacific Islands region for China?

Mao Ning: China is committed to growing friendship and cooperation with Vanuatu, Solomon Islands and other Pacific Island countries and contributing to their endeavor to promote economic and social development, improve people’s life and realize development and prosperity.

China News Service: To follow up on the resolution on “Enhancing International Cooperation on Capacity-building of Artificial Intelligence” proposed by China to the UN General Assembly (UNGA), we learned that the US is one of its co-sponsors. How would you assess China’s dialogue and cooperation with the US on AI?

Mao Ning: China commends the US and other UN Member States for actively participating in the consultation on the UNGA draft resolution for enhancing international cooperation on AI capacity-building. We appreciate their support for the resolution’s adoption by consensus.

China stands ready to work with the US to act on the common understandings reached by the two presidents in San Francisco, step up bilateral and multilateral dialogue and cooperation on AI, and make sure all humanity can share the benefits of AI.

Reuters: China’s Embassy in the Philippines announced that a Chinese national had been kidnapped and killed. Could you please provide more information on what happened?

Mao Ning: According to verified information, a Chinese national was kidnapped and killed. After the kidnap took place, the Chinese Embassy in the Philippines stayed in close touch with the Philippine side and urged it to make every possible effort to work on the case and take effective measures to protect the safety of Chinese nationals in the Philippines. Our Embassy also provided support and facilitation to the family of the victim. The Foreign Ministry will work with relevant departments to provide instructions to our Embassy in Manila to closely follow up on the case and make sure everything is properly handled.

Reuters: The Philippines has called the Chinese Coast Guard’s actions on June 17 “escalatory” and “the most aggressive in recent history.” Do you have any comment on this?

Mao Ning: We have said clearly several times what recently happened between China and the Philippines near Ren’ai Jiao and what our position is. Ren’ai Jiao is China’s territory. The root cause of the current situation is that the Philippines infringed on China’s rights and made deliberate provocations. The Philippines needs to stop those infringement activities and provocations at once, and return as soon as possible to the track of resolving differences through dialogue and consultation.