Zheng Zeguang, the Chinese ambassador to the UK, has called for greater cooperation between China and Britain on artificial intelligence (AI). He stated that both countries have much to gain from working together in areas such as manufacturing, healthcare, and research.
The ambassador highlighted that the UK has strengths in frontier research, life sciences, financial services, and AI innovation. China, he noted, possesses strengths in advanced manufacturing, engineering, and large-scale industrial deployment, alongside one of the world's largest markets for AI applications.
Zeguang suggested that combining British biomedical research with China's capacity for AI deployment could accelerate drug discovery and improve healthcare. Similarly, pairing British innovation with China's industrial capabilities could speed up the adoption of smarter production methods.
He also mentioned that joint research could contribute to international standards for AI safety, testing, and evaluation. This cooperation, he argued, would benefit both nations and generate solutions with wider global value.
The ambassador's comments follow the 2026 World AI Conference in Shanghai, where representatives from over 100 countries discussed how AI could better serve humanity and how to build a more inclusive global governance framework. China's President Xi Jinping addressed the conference, calling for innovation-driven development, risk awareness, and secure, controllable AI.
To support global AI development, China has announced plans to provide 5,000 AI training and seminar opportunities to developing countries over the next five years. China will also develop international AI-application cooperation centres with several international organisations and Bric countries. Additionally, 30 nations will gain access to the AI-powered early-warning weather system, Mazu.