China called on Friday for dialogue and cooperation in artificial intelligence governance, saying AI should not become a domain of confrontation among major powers.

Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning made the remarks in response to a question about views in some Western media that the global AI race has entered a phase of China-US rivalry, which could intensify bloc confrontation in the technology sector.

The question also noted that Chinese and US tech companies have recently launched several cooperation projects in areas such as general-purpose large language models and robotics, while many industry insiders have called for AI cooperation between the two countries.

Artificial intelligence is profoundly changing the way people live and work, and it is a new issue that humanity must face together, Mao said.

"AI is not the exclusive preserve of major powers, still less should it slide into competition and confrontation," she said.

Mao said China has always upheld a people-centered, open, inclusive and beneficial approach to AI development.

She said China has proposed the Global AI Governance Initiative, hosted the World Artificial Intelligence Conference for eight consecutive years, and advocated the establishment of a World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization.

The core purpose of these efforts is to build consensus through dialogue, deepen cooperation, and foster an open, equal, fair and non-discriminatory environment for AI development, Mao added.

China will host the 2026 World AI Conference and High-level Meeting on Global AI Governance in Shanghai this July, she said.

China looks forward to taking the conference as an opportunity to engage in in-depth exchanges and dialogue with all parties, strengthen global AI governance, and promote AI for the benefit of all humanity, Mao added.