China Urges Global Consensus on Balancing AI Development and Security Amid Tech Race with US

China's Premier Li Qiang emphasized the need for global consensus on balancing AI development and security risks. He highlighted the importance of open-source development and international cooperation, citing the need to address technological monopolies and ensure that AI benefits more countries. The remarks come as the US and China engage in a tech race, with Washington expanding efforts to curb exports of advanced chips to China.

China's Premier Li Qiang has underscored the need for global consensus on balancing artificial intelligence (AI) development and security risks at the annual World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) in Shanghai. Speaking at the event, Li emphasized the importance of open-source development and international cooperation, highlighting the need to address technological monopolies and ensure that AI benefits more countries [1].

Li's remarks come as the U.S. and China engage in a heated tech race, with Washington expanding efforts to curb exports of advanced chips to China. The U.S. has imposed export restrictions on advanced technology, including high-end AI chips, citing concerns about enhancing China's military capabilities [1].

Li called for the establishment of an organization to foster global cooperation on AI, warning that AI development must be weighed against security risks. He stated that global consensus is urgently needed to form a globally recognized framework for AI governance [1].

The Chinese premier also noted that AI could become an "exclusive game" for a few countries and companies, emphasizing the need for more coordination between nations. Li pointed out challenges such as an insufficient supply of AI chips and restrictions on talent exchange [1].

In a separate development, Reka AI, a startup specializing in large language models, has reached a $1 billion valuation with a $110 million funding round led by Nvidia and Snowflake. This investment has more than tripled the company's valuation, pushing it past the $1 billion mark [2]. Reka AI's technology can process various data types, making it a versatile solution for enterprises.

The funding round reflects a growing appetite for independent AI players who can compete with larger tech companies. Reka AI's ability to provide advanced AI capabilities without being locked into Big Tech ecosystems is a significant advantage [2].

Li's call for global cooperation on AI comes as the U.S. continues to develop its own AI strategy. The Trump administration has unveiled an aggressive low-regulation strategy aimed at cementing U.S. dominance in the field [1]. However, the U.S. regulators appear cautious regarding the use of open source data and software, focusing on potential national security implications [3].

The World AI Conference, an annual government-sponsored event, typically attracts major industry players, government officials, researchers, and investors. This year's event featured speakers such as Anne Bouverot, the French president's special envoy for AI, and former Google CEO Eric Schmidt [1].

References:
[1] https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2025/jul/26/china-calls-for-global-ai-cooperation-days-after-trump-administration-unveils-low-regulation-strategy
[2] https://www.ainvest.com/news/reka-ai-surpasses-1-billion-valuation-nvidia-snowflake-funding-2507/
[3] https://www.crowell.com/en/insights/client-alerts/artificial-intelligence-and-open-source-data-and-software-contrasting-perspectives-legal-risks-and-observations