In a significant diplomatic maneuver, India is considering a “cautious support” for China’s newly proposed global artificial intelligence (AI) cooperation body, signaling a potential convergence of interests between the two Asian giants on the future of AI governance. The move, while not indicating full membership, could see India engaging with China’s initiative to shape a global AI framework that is not exclusively dominated by Western powers.
The discussion is expected to be a key agenda point during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s upcoming visit to China for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) leaders’ summit. This marks the first such visit in seven years and underscores a diplomatic recalibration between the two nations, which have been navigating complex relations.
China’s proposal, the World AI Cooperation Organization (WICO), was launched at the country’s largest AI conference in July. Beijing has framed the body as a way to promote international cooperation, share technologies, and democratize access to AI, particularly for the Global South. This vision aligns with India’s long-standing position on the need for inclusive and equitable AI development. Both countries were among 58 nations that signed a declaration on inclusive and sustainable AI use at the AI Action Summit in Paris earlier this year, a pact notably not signed by the United States and the United Kingdom.
Indian officials indicate that New Delhi’s approach will be a calibrated one. While India may lend its support to an SCO leaders’ declaration that includes language on AI cooperation, it is likely to avoid formally joining WICO. This strategic stance allows India to influence the conversation and promote its own principles of “human-centric” and “trustworthy” AI, without ceding strategic autonomy.
India’s domestic and foreign policy on AI has been clear: it seeks to be a top voice in global AI governance, championing the interests of developing nations. With the planned AI Impact Summit in New Delhi set for early next year, India is actively positioning itself as an independent and influential player in the global AI landscape. This cautious engagement with China’s proposal reflects New Delhi’s desire to find a balance between fostering global cooperation and protecting its own national interests and technological sovereignty.
