The Lao delegation was led by Mr. Thongsavanh Phomvihane, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, accompanied by Mr. Santisouk Simmalavong, Minister of Technology and Communications, and Ms. Mukdavanh Sisoulith, Director General of the Department of International Organizations at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
In his keynote address, Chinese President Xi Jinping said the conference would focus on six key areas: technological innovation, academic exchanges, industrial exhibitions, AI competitions, practical applications, and talent development.
President Xi described artificial intelligence as a transformative force driving a new wave of scientific and industrial innovation. While AI presents enormous opportunities for economic and social development, he said it also raises important challenges related to governance, ethics, security, and the widening digital divide.
To address these challenges, President Xi proposed a four-point framework for global AI governance. He called for expanding open and mutually beneficial cooperation, strengthening AI safety and risk management, promoting cultural diversity and inclusiveness, and reinforcing multilateral cooperation to establish fair and effective international governance mechanisms, with particular attention to supporting developing countries and the Global South.
President Xi stressed that AI should serve as a shared public good rather than the exclusive domain of any single country, emphasizing that international cooperation is essential to ensure the technology benefits all humanity.
China also announced several new initiatives, including an AI Capacity Building Action Plan, the establishment of international AI cooperation mechanisms, and the provision of 1,000 training and research opportunities for professionals from developing countries over the next three years. Additional plans include creating international AI application cooperation centers and deploying AI-powered weather forecasting technologies in 30 countries.
Concluding his address, President Xi reaffirmed China's commitment to greater international openness and practical cooperation, inviting countries worldwide to work together to ensure artificial intelligence contributes to sustainable development, shared prosperity, and the well-being of humanity.