China will take part in India’s upcoming AI Impact Summit in New Delhi, marking a significant step in regional technology diplomacy and supporting India’s efforts to establish itself as a leader in global AI governance.
The summit, scheduled from February 16 to 20, will bring together policymakers, researchers, and industry leaders at a time when AI cooperation is closely intertwined with geopolitics.
India’s Consul General in Shanghai, Pratik Mathur, said China’s participation reflects improving bilateral engagement, particularly after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to China last August for the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in Tianjin. In a statement on WeChat, Mathur described Beijing’s involvement as a sign of “growing positive momentum” in India-China relations, suggesting that emerging technology discussions can create common ground despite broader strategic differences.
A senior Chinese delegation is expected, led by Chen Jiachange, Vice Minister at China’s Ministry of Science and Technology. Other participants include Liu Yuechen, President of the Shanghai AI Research Institute; Xu Yuan, President of the Beijing Institute of Technology; Xu Jia and Cong Yiwen, Chair and Vice Chair of the Shanghai AI Laboratory; and senior scholars Liu Quan, Shi Chen, and Liang Jiawei from the China Center for Information Industry Development.
Officials familiar with preparations said China has expressed full support for India’s initiatives to strengthen reformed multilateral frameworks, particularly those focused on the priorities of the Global South. These themes are expected to be central in sessions on inclusive AI development, capacity building, and equitable access to emerging technologies.
China’s confirmation follows an earlier announcement by the United States, which will also send a high-level delegation. The US team will be led by Michael Kratsios, Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, accompanied by senior officials including Sriram Krishnan, Jacob Helberg, William Kimmitt, and Jeffrey Kessler. Their participation highlights US interest in global AI governance, cooperation, and technical standards.
For India, the simultaneous participation of China and the US underscores the summit’s diplomatic significance. New Delhi has positioned the AI Impact Summit as a platform to bridge advanced and developing economies, promoting innovation while emphasizing responsible AI that serves the public good.
As global competition in AI grows, India’s ability to convene rival powers in a single forum offers a rare opportunity for dialogue, where cooperation, standards, and shared challenges can take precedence over strategic rivalry.
