Xi Jinping urges more global approach to AI governance, criticizes U.S. limits on technology sharing

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday urged greater international cooperation to develop and govern artificial intelligence, saying AI development should be guided through a broader, global effort rather than handled primarily through unilateral restrictions. In remarks carried by PBS NewsHour, Xi also criticized U.S. actions aimed at limiting technology sharing, arguing that the United States has been “overstretching” national security concerns to justify those curbs.

Xi’s comments were framed around the idea that artificial intelligence should be managed through cooperative governance to ensure responsible development. He said the development and governance of AI should not be treated as a narrow national project, according to the PBS report, and that international coordination is necessary as AI spreads across industries and countries.

At the same time, Xi reiterated China’s objections to what he characterized as U.S. efforts to restrict cross-border technology flows. The PBS report said Xi specifically took issue with the way U.S. policymakers expand the scope of national security to justify limits on technology sharing.

The criticism reflects a broader pattern of tension between the United States and China over technology controls, including restrictions intended to prevent sensitive capabilities from being transferred to potential strategic rivals. In Xi’s framing, those controls are not simply prudential measures, but an excessive expansion of security rationales that can impede broader economic and technological development.

Xi’s call for more global efforts also aligns with Beijing’s repeated arguments in international forums that AI governance should be shaped through multilateral frameworks. The PBS report described his emphasis on development and governance as a shared challenge, rather than one country deciding rules for the rest of the world.

The remarks come as governments in multiple countries debate how to balance innovation with safeguards, including safeguards around dual-use technologies and the risks AI can pose to public safety. For China, the policy dispute with the United States over technology sharing is closely tied to how each side defines national security and what types of technical exchange should be permitted.

The next steps following Xi’s comments are likely to be diplomatic rather than immediate. The PBS report indicates his remarks were part of an ongoing effort to set the terms of AI governance internationally and to respond to U.S. technology curbs through international debate.

While Xi’s statements were aimed at shaping global discourse, the practical impact will depend on whether governments adjust or maintain controls on technology transfers and on what multilateral AI governance mechanisms gain traction in the near term, especially as countries weigh risks associated with AI systems and their supply chains.