An inclusive vision for shared digital prosperity

By Maya Majueran

[Photo by Shi Yu/China Daily]

As China prepares to host the 2026 World Artificial Intelligence Conference in Shanghai, it is sending a message that extends far beyond technology.

President Xi Jinping is scheduled to attend the opening ceremony and deliver a keynote speech, during which he is expected to present China's comprehensive approach to AI development and governance, including policy priorities, a strategic vision, and proposals for international cooperation.

Beijing is positioning itself not only as a leader in artificial intelligence innovation, but also as a champion of a more inclusive approach to AI governance, one that gives developing countries a seat at the table rather than leaving them on the sidelines.

This matters because the future of AI will not be determined by algorithms and computing power alone. It will also be shaped by the rules, standards, and governance frameworks that emerge around the technology.

For many countries across Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Pacific, China's message of broader participation, technological cooperation, and shared development is increasingly attractive.

Across the Global South, the AI revolution raises urgent questions about technological sovereignty and inclusion. Many developing countries worry that the technologies, standards, and governance frameworks shaping the future digital economy may be designed primarily by and for advanced economies, leaving them as passive consumers rather than active participants.

Against this backdrop, China's commitment to broader participation, technological cooperation, and inclusive AI governance presents a compelling alternative.

At the heart of this appeal lies China's expanding open-source AI ecosystem. Models such as DeepSeek and Qwen are increasingly viewed as practical tools for countries seeking to participate in the AI revolution without becoming dependent on expensive proprietary platforms.

Their lower costs, strong performance, and adaptability make them particularly attractive to developing nations looking to build sovereign AI capabilities tailored to local languages, cultures, and development priorities.

The benefits are already visible.

Across Asia, Africa, Latin America, and the Middle East, startups, universities, research institutions, and government agencies are experimenting with Chinese open-source models to develop applications in education, healthcare, agriculture, finance, public administration, and language services. Small and medium-sized enterprises that previously lacked the resources to access cutting-edge AI technologies can now build AI-powered products and services at a fraction of the cost.

For entrepreneurs, the avAIlability of open-source models significantly lowers barriers to innovation, allowing local companies to compete and create solutions designed for local markets.

Individuals are benefiting as well. Developers, students, researchers and technology professionals can access advanced AI capabilities without paying expensive licensing fees or relying entirely on foreign proprietary systems.

This is helping foster AI communities across the developing world, accelerating skills development and digital literacy. In many countries, open-source models are also being adapted to support local languages and dialects that have historically been underrepresented in global AI systems.

More broadly, the rise of China's open-source ecosystem is contributing to the democratization of artificial intelligence. Rather than concentrating advanced AI capabilities in the hands of a few corporations or countries, it offers developing nations a more accessible pathway to technological participation.

For many countries in the Global South, this is not simply about cheaper technology — it is about digital sovereignty, stronger local innovation ecosystems, and the opportunity to become creators of AI rather than just its consumers.

Experts say the rapid global adoption of Chinese open-source models is driven largely by their affordability and competitive performance. For many developing countries, these technologies provide access to advanced AI capabilities that were previously beyond reach.

The implications are significant. Countries across Asia, Africa and Latin America can begin building AI systems adapted to local realities rather than relying solely on technologies designed elsewhere.

Whether in education, healthcare, agriculture, or public administration, open-source AI offers a realistic path toward greater digital sovereignty and technological self-reliance.

This approach becomes particularly compelling when contrasted with recent initiatives in the United States such as the "Tech Corps", which aims to support the adoption of American AI technologies abroad. Critics argue that such programs risk reinforcing technological dependence by expanding the reach of established US technology firms.

China, by contrast, presents its AI strategy through the language of openness, fairness and shared development, emphasizing that the benefits of artificial intelligence are shared more broadly.

For many countries in the Global South, this distinction matters. Their concern is not simply gaining access to AI tools, but ensuring that they have the opportunity to help shape, adapt, and develop those technologies according to their own needs and priorities.

The US, on the other hand, has adopted a more restrictive approach to advanced AI technologies, including export controls and limits on access to certain cutting-edge capabilities.

Critics argue that these measures prioritize technological leadership and competitive advantage, while raising concerns among allies and developing countries about unequal access to technologies that will shape the future global economy.

The upcoming conference in Shanghai is more than a showcase of technological achievements — it is a statement of China's vision for the future of global AI governance. Through the proposed World AI Cooperation Organization, Beijing seeks to create an inclusive platform where developing countries can help shape AI standards, governance, and capacity building.

By promoting artificial intelligence as a global public good, China aims to expand technological cooperation, strengthen innovation partnerships, and build international consensus around a safer, more equitable, and more inclusive AI future.

For many countries in the Global South, this is an attractive proposition. By framing AI governance around cooperation, accessibility, safety, and shared development, China is advocating for a more representative digital future.

At its core, China's AI strategy speaks to a demand that has been growing across the developing world: access without dependency.

Many countries want the benefits of AI without being forced into technological relationships that limit their autonomy or leave them permanently dependent on foreign platforms.

By emphasizing openness, cooperation, and capacity building, China is presenting a vision of AI development that many in the Global South view as more closely aligned with their own development priorities and long-term aspirations.

The author is the founding director of the Belt and Road Initiative Sri Lanka.