China-ASEAN Roundtable on AI Governance Held Successfully at the Global Governance Forum 2026 in Xiong'an
Updated：2026-10-28 14:39
share
On October 25, 2026, the China-ASEAN Roundtable on AI Governance was successfully held as part of the Global Governance Forum 2026 in Xiong'an. Chen Bo, President of the China Institute of International Studies, and Looi Teck Kheong, President of the Singapore Chapter of the Global Council for Responsible AI, delivered opening remarks respectively as co-chairs of the roundtable.
Experts and scholars from Chinese and ASEAN research institutions, universities and think tanks participated in their personal capacities, including representatives from the Institute of World Economics and Politics of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, the Institute for AI International Governance of Tsinghua University, the China Academy of Information and Communications Technology, the National Artificial Intelligence Office of the Ministry of Digital of Malaysia, the Indonesian National Research and Innovation Agency, the Myanmar Institute of Strategic and International Studies, the Thailand-China Research Center of the Belt and Road Initiative, the East Asian Institute of the National University of Singapore, the Institute of Foreign Affairs of the Lao PDR, the Institute for Policy Studies and Media Development of Vietnam, and the ASEAN Foundation.
They held in-depth exchanges on topics including AI governance and regulatory policy coordination, regional cooperation pathways, capacity building needs, and industrial and technological development, and reached the following consensus.
1. Uphold the direction of open, inclusive, equitable and beneficial global AI governance. Participants agreed that the United Nations should serve as the main channel for global AI governance, and welcomed the work of the Independent International Scientific Panel on AI and the Global Dialogue on AI Governance. Guided by a people-centered approach and the principle of developing AI for good, the international community should uphold the principles of fairness and non-discrimination, enhance the representation and voice of developing countries in global AI governance, and respect the right of all countries to independently choose their own paths for AI development and governance in light of their national conditions. Efforts should be made to foster an open, safe, secure, interoperable and inclusive global digital ecosystem.
2. Support the development of AI cooperation platforms for the Global South. Participants noted that the Global Governance Initiative and the Global AI Governance Initiative proposed by China offer important contributions to the international community's efforts to address global AI governance challenges. They welcomed the development of the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization, expressing the hope that the Organization would create more opportunities for Global South countries to strengthen exchanges and cooperation in the field of AI. This platform can complement existing ASEAN-led mechanisms to strengthen China-ASEAN cooperation on AI and jointly promote the development of AI for good, ensuring that its benefits are shared by all.
3. Advance interoperable approaches to AI governance. Participants recognized that China and ASEAN Member States take different but complementary approaches to AI governance, which can work well together. They encouraged dialogue towards greater interoperability, including through a shared understanding of key AI governance terms and risk categories, cooperation on AI testing, evaluation and regulatory sandboxes, and exchanges on cross-border data flows, algorithmic governance and AI ethics, with full respect for each country's laws and regulations.
4. Establish a regular exchange mechanism. Participants proposed that the China-ASEAN Roundtable on AI Governance be held on a regular basis, with China and ASEAN Member States encouraged to take turns hosting it. The roundtable could serve as an important Track II platform for policy dialogue, regulatory coordination, experience sharing and practical cooperation in the field of AI governance, and could contribute ideas to intergovernmental exchanges and dialogues, so as to continuously build consensus on China-ASEAN cooperation in AI governance.
5. Deepen exchanges on governance experience and cooperation on capacity building. Participants agreed to strengthen exchanges and mutual learning between China and ASEAN Member States on AI policymaking, governance practices and technological applications. In line with the development needs of ASEAN Member States, the two sides should actively promote two-way, long-term cooperation in AI talent development, knowledge sharing and capacity building for regulators, enterprises, young people and other stakeholders, with particular attention to the less-developed Member States, thereby enhancing ASEAN Member States' capacity for AI development and innovative applications and ensuring that the benefits of AI development are shared more broadly among countries and their peoples.
6. Promote multi-stakeholder participation to advance industrial development. Participants agreed to encourage governments, enterprises, research institutions and industry associations in China and ASEAN Member States to actively participate in China-ASEAN cooperation on AI governance and industrial development. The two sides should explore cooperation models featuring government guidance, multi-stakeholder collaboration and industry-academia-research integration, with priority given to sectors such as agriculture, manufacturing and cross-border trade. These efforts should promote the practical implementation of AI governance and industrial innovation in a coordinated manner, while harnessing AI’s potential to advance the economic and social development of all countries and promoting broader access to its benefits for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises and improvements in people's livelihoods.
