China has proposed the creation of an international organization to coordinate global cooperation and regulation on artificial intelligence, as it seeks to position itself as a counterbalance to the United States in the rapidly evolving tech sector.

Speaking at the World Artificial Intelligence Conference in Shanghai on Saturday, Premier Li Qiang said China is ready to share its AI progress with the world, particularly with developing nations in the Global South. He warned that AI should not become the “exclusive game” of a few powerful countries or corporations.

“China supports building a global AI governance framework with broad consensus,” Li said. “We are open to sharing our technologies and experiences, and we welcome collaboration to ensure all countries and companies benefit equally from AI advancements.”

While not directly naming the U.S., Li’s remarks come amid rising tensions between Beijing and Washington over AI and semiconductor technology. The U.S. has imposed export restrictions on advanced chips and equipment to China, citing national security concerns and fears that the tech could boost China’s military capabilities.

Despite these barriers, China has continued to make rapid progress in AI. Vice Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu revealed at a roundtable with delegates from over 30 countries—including Russia, Germany, South Africa, and South Korea—that Beijing is considering Shanghai as headquarters for the proposed global AI body.

The government also released an AI governance action plan, calling for collaboration through open-source platforms and international partnerships involving companies, research institutions, and governments.

The three-day WAIC event, which drew over 800 companies and featured over 3,000 tech products, highlighted China’s ambitions to lead in AI. Top speakers included AI pioneer Geoffrey Hinton, French envoy Anne Bouverot, and former Google CEO Eric Schmidt. Notably absent this year was Tesla CEO Elon Musk, a regular at previous editions.