<p>China has urged the United States to cooperate on artificial intelligence (AI), emphasizing the need for collaboration as both nations strive for dominance in the technology sector. This statement follows a recent visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping to the U.S.</p>
<p>Chinese Ambassador to the U.S. Xie Feng expressed that the relationship should be characterized by mutual progress rather than competition. He stated, "This should be a race of catching up with one another, not a wrestle in which one either wins or loses," during an interview with Newsweek.</p>
<p>Ambassador Feng cautioned against the U.S. creating an “iron curtain” around AI, advocating for it to be viewed as a new opportunity for cooperation. He highlighted that during Xi's visit, the two nations held their first AI Dialogue and planned further discussions in November to address the responsible use of AI and establish a communication channel for AI-related incidents.</p>
<p>Feng remarked, “This proves that AI can very well become a new frontier for China-U.S. cooperation, rather than a new arena for confrontation or conflict.” He emphasized the importance of collaboration over competition, stating, “The right thing to do is to draw on each other’s strengths, not guard against each other.”</p>
<p>The ambassador also discussed the differences between open and closed AI models, criticizing the U.S. reliance on closed systems like those from OpenAI and Anthropic, which are generally more expensive and have historically outperformed open models. He noted that China has excelled in the open-model market, providing free systems that are accessible and customizable.</p>
<p>Feng referenced an incident where a Chinese open model was used to thwart a cyberattack on the startup Hugging Face, suggesting that the U.S. should consider adopting open models to avoid technological isolation. He warned that “technological decoupling, enclosure, and self-isolation are the real recipe for risk.”</p>
<p>He stated, “When an AI model escaped the sandbox in the U.S. in July, it was an open-weight model developed by a Chinese company that came to the rescue.” Feng concluded by expressing hope for U.S.-China collaboration in AI, stating, “We hope the U.S. will work with China in the same direction, help each other succeed with an open mind, and live up to our shared responsibility through cooperation.”</p>
<p>Some U.S. lawmakers, including Senator Ted Cruz, have expressed concerns about China's influence in the U.S. and its potential impact on public opinion regarding AI. Feng's remarks may not alleviate these concerns, as he noted a shift in American attitudes towards China since 2023, attributing it to joint efforts to counteract negative perceptions.</p>
<p>Feng reiterated China's willingness to be a partner to the U.S., stating, “China is willing to be a partner and friend of the U.S. We hope the U.S. side will actively respond and take action to work with China in the same direction.”</p>