China Extends Invitation to SCO Members to Collaborate on Building a Unified AI Application Center
China proposes joint SCO AI application center during 2025 China-SCO AI Cooperation Forum in Tianjin.
China has extended a formal invitation to member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) to collaborate on the establishment of an Artificial Intelligence (AI) application center. This initiative, unveiled as part of the China-SCO Member States AI Application Cooperation Center Construction Plan, was announced on Thursday during the 2025 China-SCO AI Cooperation Forum in Tianjin Municipality, northern China.
The proposed joint center aims to serve as a hub for talent cultivation, industrial collaboration, and open-source service sharing across the SCO region. According to the plan, these objectives are designed to address key needs in developing practical AI applications and fostering growth within participating countries. Themed "Intelligence Converges in China, Wisdom Benefits SCO," this year's forum seeks to drive forward both technological progress and robust governance models within the field of AI, reinforcing collective advancement among the SCO member nations.
At the forum, Huang Ru—a leading figure with China’s National Development and Reform Commission—highlighted the strategic value of enhanced cooperation in AI technology and its applications. Huang emphasized that accelerating such partnerships would both "energize the SCO's economic and social development" and contribute to more inclusive global growth. The official also stressed that collaborative projects in AI could play a vital role in bridging the global digital divide, ensuring that advances in this transformative technology are broadly shared.
China reaffirmed its commitment to upholding the "Shanghai Spirit"—a guiding principle of mutual trust, benefit, equality, consultation, respect for cultural diversity, and desire for common development—while pursuing these ambitious goals. With calls for joint action to guarantee that AI development is beneficial, secure, and equitable, China signaled its readiness to strengthen ties with fellow SCO states and ensure all partners can harness the transformative potential of artificial intelligence.
