China's Vice Premier ZHANG Guoqing will attend Paris AI Action Summit as special envoy of President Xi Jinping

The highest-ranking representative of the Chinese government attending the Paris AI Action Summit has been confirmed—Zhang Guoqing (张国清), Vice Premier of the State Council and Special Representative of President Xi Jinping.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian announced on February 7 that Zhang Guoqing, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, Vice Premier of the State Council, and Special Representative of President Xi Jinping, will attend the AI Action Summit in France from February 9 to 12 at the invitation of the French side.

In May 2024, during President Xi Jinping’s visit to France, the two sides issued a joint statement in which China expressed its willingness to participate in the global AI summit hosted by France. Zhang’s attendance as the head of the Chinese delegation is a concrete step in implementing the consensus reached by the two leaders.

Compared to the Bletchley Summit, the delegation leader’s rank has been significantly elevated. Last time, it was only a vice minister of the Ministry of Science and Technology, and the title of “Special Representative of President Xi Jinping” was not conferred.

Q&A between a reporter and MOFA’s spokesperson:

Reporter of China Daily: You just announced that Vice Premier Zhang Guoqing will attend the AI Action Summit. Could you further elaborate on China’s considerations and expectations for participation?"

Lin Jian: China is an active advocate and practitioner of global AI governance. In October 2023, President Xi Jinping proposed the Global AI Governance Initiative, presenting China’s approach and contributing Chinese wisdom to this critical issue of our time. During President Xi’s visit to France in May 2024, China and France issued a joint statement on AI and global governance, in which China expressed its willingness to participate in the AI summit that France will host in 2025. Vice Premier Zhang Guoqing’s attendance at the summit as President Xi’s Special Representative is a concrete step in implementing the consensus reached by the two leaders and highlights China’s responsible approach as a major AI power committed to advancing both AI development and safety.

Through participation in this summit, China looks forward to strengthening communication and exchanges with all parties, building consensus on cooperation, and actively advancing the implementation of the United Nations Global Digital Compact. We also welcome countries to attend the 2025 World Artificial Intelligence Conference in China to help shape a broadly recognized global AI governance framework and promote AI for the benefit of all.

As the Vice Premier of the State Council responsible for industry and information technology as well as work safety, Zhang Guoqing primarily views AI from the perspective of industrial development, emphasizing its role in empowering advanced manufacturing and new industrialization.

From October 14 to 16, 2023, Zhang Guoqing, in his capacity as Vice Premier of the State Council, visited Yulin, Yan'an, and Xi'an in Shaanxi Province to inspect the progress of new industrialization. He emphasized the need to accelerate industrial digital transformation, deepen the development of intelligent manufacturing, strengthen key digital infrastructure foundations, and promote the comprehensive and in-depth empowerment of new industrialization through AI.

From April 15 to 16, 2024, Zhang Guoqing traveled to Wuhu and Hefei in Anhui Province to inspect the high-quality development of key industrial chains and assess work safety in enterprises. In Wuhu and Hefei, he visited companies such as EFORT, Chery Automobile, and iFLYTEK, where he entered production workshops and R&D facilities to gain firsthand insight into the research and production of industrial robots and new energy vehicles. He closely inquired about the progress of AI-driven technological advancements in new industrialization. Zhang emphasized:

“It is crucial to grasp the characteristics of AI development, strategically coordinate the deployment of general-purpose and domain-specific AI models, vigorously develop intelligent products and equipment, facilitate the application of innovative AI achievements in key industrial chains, and promote the deep integration of AI with manufacturing.”

From June 14 to 18, 2024, Zhang Guoqing visited Guangzhou, Shenzhen, and Shanghai to inspect the high-quality development of the manufacturing sector. In these cities, he visited several AI enterprises and research institutions to gain a detailed understanding of innovation, R&D, manufacturing, and industry development.

From October 8 to 10, 2024, Zhang Guoqing traveled to Lanzhou and Jiayuguan in Gansu Province to inspect industrial economic operations and the transformation and upgrading of the manufacturing sector. He stressed:

“We must adhere to a scenario-driven and chain-coordinated approach, deeply advance the ‘intelligent transformation, digital transformation, and network integration’ strategy, enhance digital transformation services for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and actively explore AI applications in the industrial sector.”

Zhang has shown a strong interest in the development of China’s AI technology. As early as 2018, when he was serving as the Mayor of Tianjin, he visited Nankai University and Tianjin University to inspect their AI institutes. During the visit, he urged both universities to "uphold the spirit of scientific inquiry, foster more innovative achievements, and explore models for commercializing research outcome, paving a path for sustainable development while building world-class AI institutes that lead both domestically and internationally."

Press Release of Nankai University

“Zhang Guoqing visited the Jinnan Campus of Nankai University, located in the Haihe Education Park, where he received a briefing on the university’s overall research efforts, the development direction of its AI Institute, and the integration of technology with market applications.

He then toured various AI Institute laboratories, including those focused on industrial robots, field and aerial robots, micro-manipulation robotics, underactuated systems, and medical and service robotics. He observed live demonstrations of research projects and gained detailed insights into the commercialization of technological outcime

Zhang Guoqing emphasized that Nankai University should uphold the spirit of scientific inquiry, foster more innovative outcome, and explore models for commercializing research to establish a sustainable development path. He urged the university to build a world-class AI institute that leads both domestically and internationally.”

Press Release of Tianjin University

“Zhang Guoqing and his delegation visited the AI Institute's technology exhibition, where they learned about the institute’s academic programs and the commercialization of research outcome. They observed demonstrations of underwater gliders, underwater robots, smart grid systems, intelligent port models, and autonomous vehicles. At each station, Zhang Guoqing paused to carefully observe and engaged in in-depth discussions with researchers.

He exchanged views on the topic of "commercializing research outcome" with experts, including Academician Yu Yixin, Li Keqiu (Director of the School of Intelligence and Computing), Jia Hongjie (Vice Dean of the Graduate School), as well as Wei Jianguo, Tao Wenyuan (Deputy Directors of the School of Intelligence and Computing), and Professor Qiu Tie.

Zhang Guoqing emphasized that Tianjin University should uphold the spirit of scientific inquiry, foster more innovative outcome, and explore models for commercializing research to create a sustainable development path. He urged the university to establish a world-class AI institute that leads both domestically and internationally.”

China sent a high-rank pro-AI industry official to be President Xi’s special envoy at the Paris AI Action Summit. What does it mean for China’s AI governance and its participation in global AI governance?