Director Magdalena Sepúlveda,
Executive Chairman Yale Li,
Ambassador Kah, Ambassador Si-jin Song,
Dear Colleagues,
Good morning.
It is a great pleasure to attend the 2026 Digital World Conference. I would like to thank the United Nations Research Institute for Social Development and the World Digital Technology Academy for jointly organizing this event and for providing an important platform for exchange, consensus-building and cooperation.
The theme of today’s conference is “AI for Social Development.” The discussions will cover a wide range of issues, including AI and data governance, social protection, just transition, art and culture, education and training, as well as youth participation and global digital leadership. These topics respond both to the rapid evolution of digital technologies and to the international community’s shared concerns over development, equity and security. It is increasingly clear to all of us that AI is no longer merely a technical issue. It has become a common issue bearing on economic development, social governance, people’s well-being and global cooperation.
Digital technologies are rapidly transforming human society. AI is making many things that were once beyond reach, difficult to do well, or slow to accomplish more accessible and efficient. At the same time, many people around the world still lack reliable internet access, suitable devices and adequate digital skills. Data, computing power, talent and platform resources remain highly concentrated in the hands of a few countries and a few companies. So when we discuss AI today, we are not simply discussing a new technology. We are discussing a fundamental question: what kind of digital future do we want to build? In this context, I would like to share four observations.
First, development should remain our central priority. The true value of technology lies, ultimately, in benefiting people and promoting development. Whether in improving public services, expanding employment opportunities, or enhancing access to education, healthcare and social protection, digital technologies should first and foremost respond to the most pressing needs of the people. For developing countries in particular, digital intelligence should serve as an effective tool for poverty reduction, capacity-building and sustainable development. China is intensively implementing the AI Plus initiative to better integrate new technologies into economic development, social governance and people’s well-being, so that innovation can be translated more broadly into real productivity and social benefits.
Second, we should remain people-centered. Issues such as algorithmic opacity, data misuse, privacy violations and technological bias have become common challenges of concern to the international community. China has always maintained that AI development must be people-centered, aimed at advancing the common well-being of humanity, grounded in safeguarding social security and respecting human rights and public interests, and guided to move in a direction conducive to the progress of human civilization. We need to balance development and security, innovation and governance, and promote a responsible framework for the development and application of technology. We should also actively support the use of AI in advancing sustainable development and in responding more effectively to global challenges such as climate change and biodiversity loss. Only in this way can AI truly benefit humanity and continue to move in the direction of AI for good.
Third, we should uphold equity and inclusiveness. All countries, regardless of their size, strength or social system, have the equal right to develop and use AI. If the gaps in connectivity, devices, computing power and capabilities are not addressed, the digital divide may create new forms of inequality. The international community should take more practical measures in such areas as infrastructure, technology transfer, capacity-building and talent development, so that developing countries can genuinely gain access to technology. Special attention should also be paid to the needs of women, youth, elderly persons, persons with disabilities, and people in remote and underdeveloped areas, so that they can share more fairly in the benefits of digital transformation.
Fourth, we should uphold multilateralism. In the age of intelligence, only through solidarity and cooperation can we better seize opportunities and meet challenges. China firmly supports the United Nations in playing its central role in global AI governance, and supports all parties in strengthening communication, sharing experience, advancing capacity-building and improving governance rules within the UN framework. Not long ago, China’s Outline of the 15th Five-Year Plan proposed expanding international cooperation in the digital and intelligent sectors and supporting Global South countries in strengthening AI capacity-building. China has also established the Group of Friends for International Cooperation on AI Capacity-Building and the China-BRICS AI Development & Cooperation Centre. We stand ready to enhance policy dialogue, share experience and deepen cooperation on capacity-building with all parties, so as to better harness AI for global development.
Dear Colleagues,
In recent years, China has put forward the Global AI Governance Initiative, the AI Capacity-Building Action Plan for Good and for All, and the Global AI Governance Action Plan. We advocate a people-centered approach and AI for good, emphasize the need to balance development and security, and support building an open, fair and effective governance framework, so that AI technologies may better serve the mankind and contribute to building a community with a shared future for humanity. China stands ready to work with all parties to create an inclusive, open, sustainable, equitable, safe and trustworthy digital and intelligent future for all, and to make further contributions to accelerating the implementation of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Finally, I wish this conference a great success.
Thank you.
