China’s top diplomat Wang Yi announced on Wednesday that Beijing is “accelerating the establishment of a global AI cooperation organization” and invited all countries to join. The comments came as the G7 summit in France wrapped up with discussions about giving “trusted partners” access to leading US AI models, according to Reuters. Two competing visions of AI governance are now diverging in public.

Wang was speaking at the release of China’s global governance whitepaper, which criticised trade wars and emphasised support for the Global South. Vice chair Zhao Haibing of China’s top economic agency pushed back on “closed, exclusive and monopolistic approaches to tech development.” The language was aimed directly at Washington.

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The contrast in approaches is stark. US AI models are subscription-only and increasingly subject to export controls. China’s efforts have focused on cheap or free models that can be downloaded in their entirety. DeepSeek, Qwen, and other Chinese open-weight models are available to anyone with an internet connection. The Global South, which cannot afford enterprise AI subscriptions and was not consulted on the G7’s “trusted partner” framework, has a clear choice between the two.

China is routing its AI diplomacy through existing multilateral bodies. Wang pointed to cooperation through BRICs and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation. Zhao cited China’s “AI Capacity Building for All” initiative, support for the UN in leading global AI governance, and programmes to help developing countries with technology and talent.