China Invites SCO Member Nations to Collaborate on Establishing AI Application Center
China proposes establishing an SCO-wide AI application center to boost regional cooperation at the 2025 China-SCO AI Forum.
China has extended an official invitation to member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) to participate in the joint construction of an Artificial Intelligence (AI) application center, a significant initiative outlined at the 2025 China-SCO AI Cooperation Forum held in Tianjin. The newly unveiled China-SCO Member States AI Application Cooperation Center Construction Plan sets out a comprehensive roadmap for fostering regional collaboration on cutting-edge AI development.
According to the plan, the cooperation center will focus on several core objectives: advancing talent cultivation across member countries, strengthening collaborative efforts within the AI industry, and promoting open-source services accessible to all participating nations. These measures are designed to build a robust ecosystem for AI innovation and practical deployment, while also ensuring that technological gains are shared equitably among SCO members.
Under the forum’s theme—"Intelligence Converges in China, Wisdom Benefits SCO"—participants from across the region convened to discuss strategies for enhancing practical cooperation in both AI development and governance. The event aims to serve as a catalyst for transforming the way member states approach emerging technologies, with particular emphasis on laying foundations for responsible AI use.
Huang Ru, an official representing China’s National Development and Reform Commission, emphasized the pivotal role of cross-border AI partnerships. “Accelerating cooperation in AI technology and applications will energize the SCO's economic and social development,” Huang remarked, adding that such collaboration would help promote inclusive global growth and play a key part in bridging the ongoing global digital divide.
Reaffirming China’s commitment to regional cooperation, Huang called upon SCO members to uphold the organization’s guiding principles—known as the "Shanghai Spirit"—and to work together in ensuring that AI advancements are beneficial, secure, and equitable. As the forum continues, attention is expected to turn toward concrete steps for turning this ambitious vision into reality, marking a new chapter in the technological partnership between China and its SCO partners.
