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China-Africa relations
ChinaDiplomacy

China’s cyberspace regulator vows to work with Africa on AI governance

  • Forum hosted by China’s internet watchdog urges Beijing and African countries to work with UN to set up artificial intelligence governing institution
  • The conference also calls for more representation of developing countries in regulating the technology

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Only seven African nations have drafted national AI strategies so far, according to US think tank Brookings Institution. Photo: Shutterstock
Holly Chik
China’s top cyberspace regulator has pledged to deepen the push for artificial intelligence governance with African countries at a China-Africa internet forum this week.
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Cyberspace Administration of China director Zhuang Rongwen said the country would work with Africa to share opportunities brought by the information revolution and improve the global internet governance system.

Zhuang made the comments during the opening ceremony of the China-Africa Internet Development and Cooperation Forum on Tuesday in the southeastern port city of Xiamen.

A statement from the forum called on China and Africa to strengthen coordination and cooperation within multilateral frameworks such as the United Nations and to support the UN in establishing an international AI governing institution.

It also called for better representation of developing countries in the global development and governance of the technology.

Hosted by the Cyberspace Administration of China and the Fujian provincial government, the conference was attended by Chinese authorities and representatives from 20 African countries, including government officials from Benin, Gabon and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. African envoys to China and representatives of international organisations also took part in the event.

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China is in intense competition with the United States to dominate AI, an industry that is still in the early stages of developing regulations and governance institutions.
In late March, the United Nations General Assembly adopted its first resolution regulating AI to “[steer] the use of artificial intelligence towards global good”.
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