China unveiled an international action plan on ethical governance of artificial intelligence on Friday at the World AI Conference 2026 and the High‑Level Meeting on Global AI Governance in Shanghai on July 17. Drafted under the joint leadership of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) and relevant stakeholders, the document explicitly frames itself within the UN Pact for the Future and its annex, the Global Digital Compact.
Axes for ethical AI governance
The plan sets out several priorities: embedding ethical governance across the entire lifecycle of AI systems; establishing tiered, categorized risk prevention and control measures; developing agile governance mechanisms; and promoting cooperative ecosystems along industry value chains. It also calls for creating a social environment conducive to the responsible adoption of AI technologies.
International cooperation and policy coordination
The document urges strengthened political coordination and operational cooperation under the principle of “wide consultation, joint contribution, and shared benefits.” MIIT says it will work with international organizations to advance implementation of the plan, deepen multilateral cooperation, and foster dialogue among governments, industry, and academia.
Inclusion, capacity building, and support for developing countries
A key objective is to make capacity building in governance more inclusive and accessible, with particular emphasis on cooperation with developing countries. The plan aims to build a balanced governance ecosystem and narrow the digital divide to broaden access to AI’s benefits.
Responsibilities, transparency, and mitigation technologies
The action plan encourages actors across industry chains to clarify their rights and responsibilities. It promotes R&D, open-source publication, and sharing of tools for model explainability, privacy protection, and bias mitigation — while stopping short of specifying timelines or concrete enforcement mechanisms.
Ethics education and protection of vulnerable groups
The plan calls for integrating science and technology ethics into the national education system. It emphasizes protecting the rights and interests of women, children, older adults, people with disabilities, and other vulnerable groups, alongside measures to reduce digital access inequalities.
This action plan places ethical AI governance at the center of an international, multi‑stakeholder approach, stressing cooperation, inclusion, and the development of technical tools to support more responsible AI.
