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China to Join India's AI Summit as Bilateral Ties Show Thaw

China is planning to send an official delegation, likely led by a vice minister, to India's upcoming AI Impact Summit in New Delhi. This marks the first public confirmation of China's attendance and is seen as a sign of gradually improving bilateral relations. Ties had deteriorated after a deadly 2020 border clash but began stabilizing following a meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Xi Jinping last year. The summit is also expected to draw other global figures like Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates.

Key Points: China to Attend India AI Summit Amid Improving Relations

  • China plans official delegation to India's AI summit
  • First public confirmation of Chinese attendance
  • Ties stabilizing after 2020 border clash
  • Summit to feature global tech leaders like Bill Gates
  • Engagement follows Modi-Xi meeting last year
2 min read

China likely to send delegation to India's AI Summit amid improving ties

China plans to send a delegation to India's AI Impact Summit in New Delhi, signaling a gradual improvement in bilateral ties after years of tension.

"the Indian embassy in Beijing had reached out to arrange visas for the Chinese representatives - George Chen"

New Delhi, Feb 4

China is planning to send an official delegation to India's upcoming AI summit in the national capital, in a fresh sign that relations between the two neighbours are gradually improving.

According to reports, a vice minister from China's Ministry of Science and Technology likely to lead the delegation.

George Chen, partner and co-chair of digital practice at consultancy The Asia Group, said the Indian embassy in Beijing had reached out to arrange visas for the Chinese representatives.

The Asia Group regularly engages with Chinese policymakers on artificial intelligence regulation, as per reports.

This is the first public confirmation that China will attend the AI Impact Summit, scheduled to take place in New Delhi from February 16 to 20.

In late December, Chinese state media had cited Indian reports saying that New Delhi had officially invited Beijing to participate in the event.

However, there is no official statement or confirmation from the Indian embassy and China's Ministry of Science and Technology.

The planned participation of Chinese officials and businesses comes at a time when ties between the two countries appear to be stabilising after several years of tension.

Relations had deteriorated sharply following a deadly border clash in 2020. After the incident, India banned dozens of Chinese mobile applications, including TikTok, citing security concerns.

However, tensions began easing last year after Prime Minister Narendra Modi met 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 shared video along with Russian President Vladimir Putin, signalling a thaw in diplomatic engagement.

Since then, steps such as the resumption of direct flights and tourist visas have reflected improving ties.

China has increasingly used platforms such as the SCO to expand its influence in global AI development.

The AI summit in India is also expected to draw several prominent global leaders, including Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates and Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei.

The event's dates coincide with China's Lunar New Year holiday, the country's biggest annual festival.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
Good to see diplomacy working. Technology should be a bridge, not a barrier. Hope this leads to more people-to-people exchanges and maybe even student collaborations in STEM fields. The youth of both countries have so much to gain.
R
Rohit P
We must proceed with extreme caution. Engagement on tech is fine, but let's not forget the ground realities at the border. Our security concerns regarding Chinese apps were valid. The delegation's attendance should be strictly monitored and limited to the summit agenda. Jai Hind.
S
Sarah B
Interesting that the dates coincide with Lunar New Year. Sending a delegation then shows a certain level of commitment from their side. Hope the summit focuses on ethical AI and collaboration for global good, not just strategic competition.
V
Vikram M
This is more about geopolitics than AI. China wants a seat at every table where rules are made. India hosting this summit with global leaders is a big deal. We should use this platform to showcase our own tech prowess and set the narrative.
K
Kavya N
While I welcome the thaw, I hope our government doesn't compromise on core security issues for the sake of appearing diplomatic. The article says there's no official confirmation yet—let's wait for that. Trust, but verify.
M
Michael C

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

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