The meteoric rise of China's artificial intelligence (AI) sector, exemplified by the groundbreaking success of the open-source DeepSeek large language model earlier this year, has captivated global attention.

This momentum has not gone unnoticed domestically, with AI taking center stage at China's "two sessions," the nation's most important political gathering. From the press conference and ministerial briefings to discussions of the country's lawmakers and political advisors, AI's role in China's future development has been emphasized at every step.

The first plenary meeting of the third session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) is held at the Great Hall of the People, Beijing, March 5, 2025. [Photo by Wang Yiming/China.org.cn]

China's 2024 government work report marked a milestone by introducing the "AI Plus" initiative, calling for an increase in the R&D and application of big data and AI, as well as the launch of the AI Plus initiative to build digital industry clusters with international competitiveness.

One year later, AI remains a priority, with the 2025 report taking this ambition further by explicitly supporting the "extensive application of large-scale AI models" and continuing the advancement of the AI Plus initiative.

"AI plus" reshaping industries

AI technology has demonstrated immense potential across various industries, including manufacturing, retail, finance and health care, said Chen Wei, an academician at the Chinese Academy of Engineering and a deputy to the 14th National People's Congress (NPC). He emphasized that expanding the AI Plus initiative could accelerate industrial upgrades and promote innovation-driven growth across sectors.

Liu Qingfeng, NPC deputy and chairman of iFlytek, China's leading AI and intelligent speech company, highlighted AI's transformative impact on manufacturing. He said that AI can play a significant role across various stages of manufacturing, including research, production, supply chain, sales, service and management. Liu noted that AI models, capable of rapidly assimilating enterprise knowledge, could enhance research efficiency and drive a paradigm shift in scientific innovation.

Lei Jun, founder and CEO of Xiaomi, also reinforced his company's commitment to AI-driven innovation, stating that Xiaomi will continue to integrate cutting-edge AI technologies into its product ecosystem.

The wave of AI-driven efficiency and innovation is also transforming the health care sector. Geng Funeng, chairman of Gooddoctor Pharmaceutical Group, told China.org.cn that with the advent of large-scale AI models, disease prediction is now possible. By analyzing big data and using model simulations, AI can predict the risk of chronic diseases such as strokes and heart attacks over decades. "This will help individuals manage their health and support the scientific approach to the 'preventative health care strategies' of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM)," Geng said. 

The NPC deputy also revealed that his company is developing AI-powered models based on DeepSeek to compile a comprehensive TCM base, paving the way for smarter, data-driven health care solutions.

In the financial sector, Tian Xuan, NPC deputy and dean of the National Institute of Financial Research at Tsinghua University, noted that leading banks and securities firms have already integrated DeepSeek into their systems. AI's ability to customize financial products, mitigate consumer risks and enhance investment decision-making is expected to drive greater market efficiency and resilience, he said.

Open AI for all

As China accelerates AI development, it is also championing an inclusive, open-source approach to technology. On the sidelines of the "two sessions," Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said that science and technology should be the wealth that benefits all and is shared by all. 

To this end, China has launched several concrete initiatives, including the Global AI Governance Initiative and the AI Capacity-Building Action Plan for Good and for All. The country has also proposed the Initiative on International Cooperation in Open Science together with Brazil, South Africa and the African Union, calling on all nations to give priority to the Global South's sci-tech capacity-building so that no country is left behind. 

Lou Qinjian, spokesperson for the third session of the 14th NPC, affirmed these initiatives, stressing that the Global AI Governance Initiative will help bridge the technological divide and prevent sci-tech innovation from becoming a "game of the rich countries and the wealthy."

Zhou Hongyi, an NPC deputy and CEO of 360 Group, underscored the significance of DeepSeek's open-source and transparent nature, calling it a milestone in China's evolution from an AI follower to a global leader. He noted that by making the technology freely accessible, DeepSeek is fostering cross-border collaboration and accelerating industry-wide progress.

Deputy Zhang Li, president of the China Center for Information Industry Development, noted that DeepSeek has introduced a cost-efficient, high-performance AI development model that lowers barriers to entry and promotes widespread adoption. The model's scalability, he argued, would trigger a breakthrough moment for China's AI ecosystem.

China's AI advancements have also caught the attention of international observers. Salvador Moncada, Honduran ambassador to China, praised the country's rapid progress in AI while attending the NPC session.  

"DeepSeek has made artificial intelligence free-source, so the possibilities of developing applications and different types of activities based on that system have been made available for the rest of the world," he noted. "This is a fantastic technological achievement, and I believe it's only the beginning of what China will accomplish in this field."

Navigating security tightrope

While open-source models such as DeepSeek have propelled AI adoption, they have also attracted significant cyberattacks, highlighting the growing security vulnerabilities across the AI sector. This necessitates stricter safeguards and regulatory oversight.

Qi Xiangdong, a national political advisor and chairman of cybersecurity company QAX, outlined three major security threats stemming from AI's rapid proliferation. These include inherent vulnerabilities within AI models, the potential for AI-driven cyberattacks — such as deepfake fraud and phishing scams — and the systemic risks that could arise from AI's deep integration into critical infrastructure.

To mitigate these threats, Qi emphasized the need for a multi-layered security framework that includes endpoint protection, data security and model integrity. He also urged regulators to establish clear compliance standards for AI security, advocating for an "AI plus security" approach to ensure that technological progress and safety evolve in tandem.

Another pressing concern is the rise of deepfake technology, which has fueled misinformation and fraud. National lawmaker and TCL founder Li Dongsheng called for mandatory labeling of AI-generated content to curb malicious misuse and stressed the need to accelerate regulatory efforts to address these challenges.

Lei Jun also weighed in on the issue, calling for a single-subject law to combat the abuse of AI-powered face-swapping and voice-cloning technologies. He suggested strengthening evidence standards for AI-related violations and imposing stricter criminal penalties for illicit uses of these technologies.

Lyu Hongbing, a national political advisor and lawyer, echoed these concerns, advocating for dedicated administrative regulations for generative AI. He argued that such legislation should clearly define the responsibilities of developers, service providers, regulators and users to ensure a well-regulated AI ecosystem.

Li Jinghong, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and also a national political advisor, urged policymakers to elevate AI legislative efforts to a strategic level. He called for an AI promotion law that would focus on advancing AI applications, ensuring equitable access, fostering innovation, nurturing AI talent, safeguarding employment and promoting international cooperation.