China’s leadership has introduced a comprehensive set of economic development guidelines that emphasize both the expansion of artificial intelligence (AI) across industries and the implementation of robust oversight measures, according to state media reports released Friday.
The guidelines, issued jointly by the Chinese Communist Party’s Central Committee and the State Council, aim to accelerate the growth of "new quality productive forces" through a series of 19 key measures spanning five main areas. These include advancing scientific and technological innovation and deepening the integration of science, technology, and industrial advancement.
A central element of the plan is the full implementation of China’s “AI Plus” initiative, which seeks to promote widespread adoption of AI technologies across various economic sectors. This initiative reflects the government’s strategic priority to harness AI as a driver for economic transformation and increased productivity.
Alongside promoting AI development, the guidelines underscore the importance of establishing comprehensive safeguards. These involve creating systems for technology monitoring, early risk warning, and emergency response mechanisms intended to ensure that AI applications remain safe, reliable, and controllable.
The policy framework follows remarks made by President Xi Jinping during the summer, in which he stressed that AI technologies should remain "always under human control." Xi called for strengthened laws and regulations in addition to technological oversight and contingency planning to mitigate risks associated with AI proliferation.
These moves parallel recent efforts in the United States, where leading technology executives agreed on principles of self-regulation after meeting with former President Donald Trump in late September. Trump described the agreement reached as “morally binding,” signaling a growing global emphasis on balancing AI innovation with responsible governance.
China’s guidelines represent a coordinated approach that seeks to balance rapid AI advancement with safety and regulatory measures, reflecting concerns about the technology’s broader societal and economic impact amid a global surge in AI development.