China’s ascent in the global artificial intelligence landscape is no longer just a projection it’s a present-day reality. With its core AI industry reaching nearly ¥600 billion (~$83.45 billion) as of April 2025, the country is fast cementing its position as a global powerhouse in intelligent technologies. Announced at the China-SCO AI Cooperation Forum in Tianjin, this milestone reflects not only the scale of investment and innovation but also the strategic intent behind China’s AI ambitions.
According to Huang Ru, a senior official from the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), China now accounts for a staggering 40% of global AI patent applications, crossing 1.5 million filings. This surge in intellectual property signals more than volume it represents depth, diversity, and momentum across various AI verticals. At the heart of this transformation are over 400 “little giant” firms, specialized players that are driving deep-tech innovation in niche and emerging segments, from natural language processing to edge computing, with rising stars like DeepSeek leading the charge.
Crucially, this growth is unfolding under the wider umbrella of regional collaboration, particularly with the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO). By leveraging the SCO’s extensive footprint across population-rich and data-intensive geographies, China is fostering a framework that supports cross-border AI development, aiming to bridge the digital divide and promote inclusive technology-led growth. This is not merely about national strength it’s about global alignment through shared innovation, standards, and ethical progress.
China’s vision for AI is one that is strategic, scalable, and increasingly global. The focus is no longer just on internal breakthroughs, but on becoming an anchor for international AI cooperation sharing expertise, setting benchmarks, and jointly navigating the socio-economic shifts that come with AI proliferation.
As the world recalibrates its technological alliances and policy frameworks, China’s AI surge offers both a challenge and an opportunity: to engage with a model that blends state backed innovation, industrial specialization, and regional diplomacy in ways few nations have achieved at this scale.
