President Xi Jinping has urged Shanghai to play a leading role in advancing China’s artificial intelligence (AI) development, as part of the nation’s broader ambition to become a global powerhouse in emerging technologies by 2030.
During a visit to China’s financial capital this week, Xi met with AI researchers, local officials, and young tech entrepreneurs. He called for an “all-out acceleration” in AI innovation, highlighting the strategic importance of smart technologies to China’s long-term economic transformation and global competitiveness.
“We must build a world-class AI ecosystem driven by innovation, grounded in ethical values, and powered by the best talent,” Xi told a group of developers at a Shanghai tech hub.
AI and Global Influence
Xi’s remarks came during a joint event at the New Development Bank (NDB), where he also held a public dialogue with former Brazilian President and current NDB President Dilma Rousseff. The conversation focused on the role of AI and digital infrastructure in fostering inclusive growth among BRICS nations and other developing economies.
President Xi praised the growing pool of young Chinese engineers and data scientists emerging from Shanghai’s top universities and research institutes, commending them as “the core driving force” behind China’s digital future.
Shanghai as AI Epicenter
Shanghai, already a national leader in smart city initiatives and AI applications in finance, healthcare, and logistics, has been earmarked as the pilot zone for China’s most ambitious AI experiments. Officials are expected to unveil a series of initiatives in the coming weeks, including expanded funding for startups, AI testing zones, and a talent recruitment program targeting both domestic and international experts.
“We want to attract the best minds in the world,” a Shanghai municipal official told reporters. “Shanghai is not just a window into China’s economy it’s the engine room of our tech ambitions.”
China’s AI Vision 2030
Beijing’s AI Vision 2030 aims to make China the global leader in artificial intelligence by the end of the decade, rivaling and potentially surpassing the United States in AI capabilities, patents, and industrial adoption. The plan includes heavy investment in semiconductors, supercomputing, and cloud infrastructure, alongside robust data governance policies.
China has already made major strides in AI-driven surveillance, fintech, autonomous vehicles, and natural language processing, and now sees AI as key to boosting productivity and overcoming demographic and economic challenges.
