SCO Pushes for “AI for Good” at Tianjin Summit
TIANJIN — At the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit, leaders representing China, Russia, Central Asian and other member states issued a unified call for artificial intelligence cooperation rooted in openness, inclusion, fairness, and the ethos of “AI for good.”
In a major plank of the Tianjin Declaration, SCO members emphasized the importance of regional collaboration in setting norms for AI development — aiming to ensure technology empowers societies without reinforcing inequalities or undermining security frameworks. The declaration underlined that AI must be governed by principles aligning with shared human values, with a view to preserving sovereignty and social stability.
Chinese President Xi Jinping announced plans to establish an AI Application Cooperation Center, meant to serve as a hub for joint research, resource sharing, and standards development. The initiative is part of broader efforts that also feature new platforms for cooperation in energy, green industry, and digital economy development.
“We intend to share the dividends of AI progress across the region,” Mr. Xi said, committing to broaden access to AI benefits — especially in sectors such as smart infrastructure, logistics, and public services. He reaffirmed the SCO’s desire to safeguard a balanced path forward in AI that respects national interests, promotes innovation, and avoids destabilizing hyper-competition.
Experts interpret the SCO’s vision as part of China’s broader approach to international AI governance: pushing back against tech race narratives prevalent in Western discourse, and framing emerging technologies as tools for collective advancement rather than economic supremacy.
Whatever is intended, the message was clear: SCO nations are shaping a framework for AI that seeks shared benefit over rivalry.
