Global AI Governance Dialogue in Geneva opens with calls for international cooperation and equal access to technology
Technology knows no borders, but its regulation remains hostage to national interests and political ambitions. When artificial intelligence outpaces legislation, and countries move at different speeds, the risk is not just a technological divide but a fragmentation of the very understanding of what the future should hold for humanity. That is why platforms for dialogue — where we can check in with each other, discuss risks and seek shared answers — are no longer merely useful; they have become essential.
On Monday, the first session of the Global Dialogue on AI Governance opened in Geneva. The two day event, organised by the United Nations, brought together representatives from governments, international organisations and industry to discuss the development of global AI rules. Topics ranged from AI opportunities and risks, bridging the AI gap and international cooperation, to human control over AI systems.
Annalena Baerbock, President of the 80th session of the UN General Assembly, said: "We see that different member states around the world are already putting in place AI governance frameworks, and are therefore learning from each other, getting better together, joining forces. This is one of the key parts of these days here in Geneva."
China's Minister of Industry and Information Technology, Li Lecheng, attending the forum as a senior representative of the Chinese government, called in his opening address for closer international cooperation in AI governance, insisting that every country deserves equal opportunities to develop AI and benefit from it. He also reaffirmed China's steadfast support for the UN as the main platform for global AI governance and expressed China's readiness to help narrow the global AI gap. Beyond the main forum, industry experts and scholars took part in thematic sessions and side events, exchanging views on both the prospects and obstacles in AI governance.
Chinese AI experts at the forum saw real value in the platform itself — a place where global dialogue can truly take root and, in turn, foster cooperation on AI governance. Zeng Yi, professor at the Wu Yuzhang Chair at Gaoling School of AI, Renmin University of China, said: "We need a platform that brings all considerations together to reach consensus and ensure compatibility. Instead of competing with each other, we need to find ways to connect and learn from each other. So the next step is really to use a platform like the Global Dialogue on AI Governance, as the UN General Assembly, to address issues based on these discussions."
The Global Dialogue on AI Governance was established under the UN General Assembly's mandate as part of the Global Digital Compact. Its aim is to provide a platform for governments and stakeholders to ensure that the priorities of all countries are taken into account in AI governance and to achieve inclusive sharing of the benefits of AI development. The outcomes of the dialogue are expected to underpin future international agreements on the ethical and safe use of artificial intelligence.
As CCTV+ reports. Participants noted the constructive nature of the discussions and expressed hope that the Geneva Dialogue would become a regular platform for developing shared approaches to governing a technology that is reshaping the world.
