China launches global AI action plan to challenge U.S. strategy
China rolled out a global AI action plan at the World Artificial Intelligence Conference in Shanghai on July 26, 2025. Premier Li Qiang announced Beijing’s bid to create a global AI cooperation organization focused on international collaboration.
This directly contrasts with the U.S. AI plan announced days earlier by President Donald Trump, which emphasizes reducing so-called “woke” bias in AI and pushing American tech exports. 
George Chen, partner at the Asia Group, noted the split:
“China clearly wants to stick to the multilateral approach while the U.S. wants to build its own camp, very much targeting the rise of China in the field of AI.”
China aims to integrate AI widely into industries under its “AI plus” program and plans to share AI tech with developing countries, especially those in the Global South.
China faces ongoing U.S. restrictions on advanced AI chips. Recently, Nvidia got approval to resume shipping a downgraded H20 chip to China after a three-month halt. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang praised China’s homegrown AI chips as “formidable” during his visit this month.
Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt met Shanghai Party Secretary Chen Jining just before the conference, signaling continued U.S.-China tech dialogue amid tensions.
China’s move marks a hardening divide in AI development between the world’s two biggest economies, setting the stage for competing global tech blocs.
