China plays key role in advancing AI for SDGs: UN official

An official from the UN's agency on telecommunications has underscored the importance of capacity building among developing countries in the realm of artificial intelligence (AI) and China's role in integrating the technology into the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The three-day 2024 World AI Conference (WAIC) in Shanghai closed on Saturday. AI for Good, a webinar series held by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), a special agency under the UN, hosted an event at the WAIC for the first time titled AI For Good Innovate for Impact. This half-day session focused on harnessing AI for social good

In an interview with China Global Television Network (CGTN) on the sidelines of the WAIC, Seizo Onoe, director of the ITU's Telecommunication Standardization Bureau,  emphasized that no one should be excluded as AI rapidly develops.

"Capacity building of AI is very important. We, ITU, held the AI for Good Global Summit in May. We also have AI Governance Day, and over 2,000 people from the government, private sector and academia joined. One of the key consensuses is that no one should be left behind in the AI revolution. That means we need capacity development for developing countries. So, that is the same concept. I 100-percent agree on the importance of capacity development for AI," Onoe said.

The agency director added that the need for the platform became clear well before the recent explosion of AI technology, which has since reshaped the platform's direction to include a focus on regulation.

"We launched the AI for Good initiative in 2017, seven years ago. So we already have some history.  And today it is a global movement which has 47 other UN agencies. The original idea was just focusing simply on the AI for Good aspect. So I mean, we are trying to create a solution for the acceleration or achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals. That was the original idea. But in recent years, some concerns have been raised due to frontier AI, generative AI. Some people are now concerned about AI governance. The new function for the AI for Good Global Summit will be a platform for discussions on AI governance," he said.

The ITU released a report at the "AI for Good" Global Summit that included a set of governance examples and specifically pointed out China's role in shaping AI development.

"Such cases are one of the solutions for the SDGs. So I'm very happy about having such good solutions from China. Actually, I understand that China is digitally one of the most advanced countries for AI technologies and AI development. So I very much welcome proposals from China and congratulate the achievement of such cases," Onoe said.

China plays key role in advancing AI for SDGs: UN official

The Shenzhou-18 crew members aboard China's orbiting space station Tiangong captured stunning views of the South China Sea and Xisha Islands from space, offering a unique perspective of their beauty.

On April 25, China launched the Shenzhou-18 manned spacecraft, sending three astronauts into the space station for a six-month mission, with a planned return to the Earth later this month.

During the mission, the three astronauts, Ye Guangfu, Li Cong and Li Guangsu, have marveled at the stunning landscapes, from snow-white seas of clouds to vibrant blue oceans and cities lit up at night.

In their downtime, the crew gaze through the windows of the space station, recording the majestic views of China. Li introduced the view of the South China Sea and Xisha Islands they captured from space.

"Hello everyone, I am astronaut Li Guangsu. Today I will show you the South China Sea. Looking down from space, the vastness of the South China Sea forms a sharp contrast with the Xisha Islands. The sea water presents a deep blue, and the islands are like bright pearls inlaid on the blue waves, each of which shining brightly with unique charm. The Xisha Islands are one of the four major archipelagos in the South China Sea, composed of the Yongle Islands and the Xuande Islands. The islands are distributed in more than 500,000 square kilometers of sea area with a total land area of about 10 square kilometers. Zhongjian Island is located at the southernmost tip of the Xisha Islands. The green vegetation covering the island can be seen vaguely from here, which is an ecological barrier to prevent wind and fix sand. This is the mark left by generations of PLA soldiers stationing on the island. In 2012, Sansha City of Hainan Province was established on Yongxing Island, governing the islands and reefs of the Xisha Islands, Zhongsha Islands, and Nansha Islands and their waters. It is the southernmost and largest prefecture-level city in China, yet with the smallest land area and smallest population," introduced Li.

"Although we cannot see it from space, we know that at this moment, a group of soldiers are stationed in the South China Sea. With the belief of loving the country and the island and guarding the border, they are the Great Wall guarding the South China Sea. On this special day of the National Day, we salute you who are guarding the front line of border defense," Li said.

The Shenzhou-18 crew are scheduled to return to Earth in late October this year after staying in orbit for about six months.

Shenzhou-18 astronauts share space views of South China Sea, Xisha Islands