Is China Sending a Delegation to India's AI Summit?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
New Delhi, Feb 4 (NationPress) China is set to dispatch an official delegation to the forthcoming AI summit in India’s capital, marking a positive shift in the relations between the two neighboring nations.
Reports indicate that a vice minister from China’s Ministry of Science and Technology is expected to spearhead this delegation.
George Chen, a partner and co-chair of the digital practice at consultancy The Asia Group, stated that the Indian embassy in Beijing has initiated contact to facilitate visa arrangements for the Chinese delegates.
The Asia Group routinely collaborates with Chinese policymakers on regulations concerning artificial intelligence, according to reports.
This announcement is the first official acknowledgment of China’s participation in the AI Impact Summit, which is slated to be held in New Delhi from February 16 to 20.
In late December, Chinese state media referenced Indian reports stating that New Delhi had formally invited Beijing to take part in the event.
However, there has been no official confirmation from either the Indian embassy or China’s Ministry of Science and Technology.
The planned involvement of Chinese officials and enterprises comes at a time when the relationship between the two countries appears to be stabilizing following years of strain.
Relations had sharply declined after a fatal border clash in 2020, which led India to ban numerous Chinese mobile applications, including TikTok, citing security issues.
Nevertheless, tensions began to ease last year after Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Tianjin in August.
The two leaders were also seen in a widely circulated video alongside Russian President Vladimir Putin, symbolizing a thaw in diplomatic relations.
Since then, actions such as the resumption of direct flights and the issuance of tourist visas have indicated improving relations.
China has increasingly leveraged platforms like the SCO to enhance its role in global AI development.
The AI summit in India is anticipated to attract several notable global figures, including Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates and Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei.
Interestingly, the event coincides with China’s Lunar New Year holiday, the country’s most significant annual celebration.