At the 2025 Global Digital Economy Conference in Beijing, industry leaders underscored the necessity for cooperation between China and the U.S. in artificial intelligence (AI), emphasizing its potential to yield shared benefits and contribute to global progress.

Christopher Millward, president of the U.S. Information Technology Office, highlighted that mutual trust is essential for effective technology collaboration between the two nations.

Xu Lin, chairman of the China-U.S. Green Fund, suggested that integrating China's data resources with U.S. computing power could significantly advance various sectors, including healthcare and pharmaceuticals.

Stephen Orlins, president of the National Committee on United States-China Relations, pointed out the critical choice between division and cooperation in AI technology, asserting that collaboration is vital for global stability.

Orlins also noted that partnerships between U.S. and Chinese academics and industries can enhance mutual understanding and accelerate breakthroughs in crucial areas like climate modeling and healthcare diagnostics.

Both Xu and Orlins agreed on the importance of establishing global AI governance rules to manage its development responsibly, reflecting the complementary strengths of both nations.

A report from Gartner highlighted China's advancements in AI, predicting that by 2030, over half of its population will regularly use AI technologies.

The conference revealed that China and the U.S. are the largest contributors to global AI research, with nearly 60% of researchers hailing from these two countries as of the end of 2024.

Looking ahead, Orlins urged both nations to foster dialogue and cooperation in AI, proposing the joint leadership of an international consortium to develop safety protocols for advanced AI systems, focusing on transparency and alignment with human values.