China, ASEAN advance people-centered, beneficial AI regional governance practices

The 2026 China-ASEAN AI Capacity-Building Training Program and High-Level Seminar on Frontier AI Technologies and Governance opened in Kuala Lumpur Jan. 23 to 24.

Participants take a group photo at the 2026 China-ASEAN AI Capacity-Building Training Program and High-Level Seminar on Frontier AI Technologies and Governance in Kuala Lumpur Jan. 23 to 24, 2026. [Photo provided to China.org.cn]

Centered on the three pillars of "Shared Technological Innovation, Coordinated Governance Norms, and Inclusive Capacity Building," the seminar highlighted the spirit of China's Global AI Governance Initiative. It brought together high-level representatives from government, industry, academia, and research sectors across China and ASEAN countries to explore frontier AI technologies, security governance, education and training, and regional cooperation pathways, with the shared goal of building an open, inclusive, and sustainable regional AI ecosystem.

The seminar attracted nearly 150 on-site participants from government, academia, and industry across China, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Brunei, Thailand, and other countries, with deep exchanges and tangible outcomes. 

Special attendees included Academician Emeritus Professor Tan Sri Dato' Seri Dr. Chuah Hean Teik, former president of UTAR and recipient of the Chinese Government Friendship Award, whose longstanding academic influence continues to advance Sino-Malaysian scientific, technological, and cultural exchanges. 

Also present was Mr. Zhao Xiangdong, science and technology counselor at the Chinese Embassy in Malaysia, underscoring China's strong commitment to deepening bilateral and regional AI cooperation.

As a key component of the event, the 2026 China-ASEAN AI Capacity Building Training Program continued at UTAR's Sungai Long Campus, with more than 300 participants in translating seminar consensus into practical skill enhancement.

The successful convening of this high-level seminar marks China-ASEAN AI cooperation entering a new stage of institutionalization, pragmatism, and ecosystem building. It lays a solid foundation for jointly addressing global technological governance challenges and creating a brighter intelligent future, while offering valuable regional practices for digital governance cooperation in the Global South.

The event was jointly organized by the Federation of Engineering Institutions of Asia and the Pacific (FEIAP), The Institution of Engineers, Malaysia (IEM), Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR), Xiamen University Malaysia (XMUM), and the Chinese Association of Automation (CAA), with support from the WFEO Committee on Engineering for Innovative Technologies (WFEO-CEIT), the ASEAN Academy of Engineering and Technology (AAET), and the China Association for Science and Technology (CAST) United Nations Consultative Committee on AI Capacity Building (CAST-UN-CCAI).

Opening ceremony addresses: Building consensus for Global South collaboration 

The opening ceremony featured keynote remarks from several prominent figures, forging broad consensus on regional AI collaborative governance. 

Prof. Shahbaz Khan [Photo provided to China.org.cn]

Prof. Shahbaz Khan, director of the UNESCO East Asia Regional Office, stressed the need to establish an inclusive and equitable global AI governance framework to ensure that AI development benefits are fairly shared with Global South nations. He highly commended China's Global AI Governance Initiative as providing crucial conceptual guidance and practical direction for international AI governance.

Prof. Hou Zengguang [Photo provided to China.org.cn]

Prof. Hou Zengguang, vice president of the Chinese Association of Automation, elaborated that the initiative is anchored in the core principles of "people-centered, beneficial AI," advocating for a broadly participatory, fair, and just global governance system. He emphasized that this seminar serves as a vital platform for regional implementation of the Initiative, aiming to jointly explore with ASEAN partners an AI development path that aligns with shared interests and promotes inclusive growth.

Dr. Aung Kyaw Myat [Photo provided to China.org.cn]

Dr. Aung Kyaw Myat, president of the Federation of Engineering Institutions of Asia and the Pacific (FEIAP), stated that FEIAP will continue to promote cross-border collaboration in AI among engineering communities in the Asia-Pacific region. He described the seminar as a key platform for realizing the vision of "shared technology and coordinated governance."

Ir. Prof. Dato' Dr. Ewe Hong Tat [Photo provided to China.org.cn]

Ir. Prof. Dato' Dr. Ewe Hong Tat, president/CEO of Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR) and president of the ASEAN Academy of Engineering and Technology (AAET), speaking as host representative, noted that ASEAN stands at a critical juncture of digital transformation, facing both technological opportunities and ethical/governance challenges. He affirmed that UTAR will continue to serve as a bridge for educational cooperation between China and Malaysia, advancing inclusive AI capacity building and education. He called for deepened China-ASEAN collaboration to jointly construct a people-centered regional AI governance ecosystem that supports sustainable and inclusive growth.

Ir. Prof. Dr. Jeffrey Chiang Choong Luin [Photo provided to China.org.cn]

Ir. Prof. Dr. Jeffrey Chiang Choong Luin, President of The Institution of Engineers, Malaysia (IEM), emphasized in his remarks that deepening cooperation with China in AI technologies, standards, and talent development will inject fresh momentum into ASEAN's digital transformation, enhancing regional resilience and sustainability.

Frontier insights: Exploring technology trends and security challenges 

The keynote session featured in-depth presentations by leading experts from China and Malaysia on frontier AI technologies and governance issues. 

YM Academician Datuk Dr. Tengku Mohd Azzman Shariffadeen FASc [Photo provided to China.org.cn]

YM Academician Datuk Dr. Tengku Mohd Azzman Shariffadeen FASc, president of the Academy of Sciences Malaysia, delivered "Finding Common Ground in AI Development and Governance," calling for consensus among China, Malaysia, and ASEAN on technical standards and ethical norms.

Prof. Song Yongduan [Photo provided to China.org.cn]

Prof. Song Yongduan, executive council member of the CAA and dean of the Institute of Artificial Intelligence, Chongqing University, presented "Neuroadaptive PID Control with Application to Unmanned Systems," showcasing cutting-edge applications in autonomous driving and intelligent robotics.

Prof. C. L. Philip Chen [Photo provided to China.org.cn]

Prof. C. L. Philip Chen, executive council member of the CAA, and distinguished chair professor at South China University of Technology, spoke on "Recent Artificial Intelligence Development Trends and Innovation Paths," analyzing the evolution of large language models (LLMs) and the industrialization prospects of generative AI.

Ir. Dr. Megat Zuhairy Bin Megat Tajuddin [Photo provided to China.org.cn]

Ir. Dr. Megat Zuhairy Bin Megat Tajuddin, chief executive of the National Cyber Security Agency (NACSA), Malaysia, focused on "Security Issues in AI Development," delving into cybersecurity, data privacy, and system resilience challenges.

Ir. Prof. Dato' Dr. Ewe Hong Tat [Photo provided to China.org.cn]

Ir. Prof. Dato' Dr. Ewe Hong Tat delivered "Welcoming the AI Era," stressing that ASEAN must prepare through education and policy, with particular emphasis on holistic education and ethical literacy in the AI age.

Prof. Dou Dejing [Photo provided to China.org.cn]

Prof. Dou Dejing, Fudan University, introduced "China's AI, LLMs, and Industrial Applications," sharing successful deployments of large models in manufacturing and smart cities.

Prof. Ir. Ts. Dr. Chuah Joon Huang [Photo provided to China.org.cn]

Prof. Ir. Ts. Dr. Chuah Joon Huang, vice president of IEM, presented "How ASEAN Can Shape People-Centered AI," advocating for regionally led, human-centric AI governance frameworks.

Prof. Gao Huijun [Photo provided to China.org.cn]

Prof. Gao Huijun, Harbin Institute of Technology; Vice President, CAA, reported on "Intelligent Micro-Manipulation Technology for Organ Regeneration," demonstrating precise AI innovations in biomedical fields. 

Mr. Li Tieyan [Photo provided to China.org.cn]

Mr. Li Tieyan, director of Huawei's Digital Identity and Trusted Laboratory, spoke on "HarmonyOS and Security Architecture in the AI Era," revealing end-to-end trusted AI system design practices.

Roundtable dialogues: Fostering practical cooperation 

Two high-level roundtables were also held to further consolidate consensus.

The "AI Education and Capacity Building" roundtable brought together representatives from education, international organizations, and industry to discuss designing inclusive AI literacy frameworks and scaling training of technically proficient and ethically aware AI talent through university-industry partnerships, short-term programs, and joint laboratories.

The "AI Education and Capacity Building" roundtable [Photo provided to China.org.cn]

The "China-ASEAN AI Cooperation and Technology Transfer Prospects" roundtable focused on industrial practice, with leaders from industry, research institutions, and policy circles exchanging views on effective technology transfer models, joint R&D priorities, startup incubation, and open innovation platforms. The lively discussion generated several preliminary cooperation intentions.

The "China-ASEAN AI Cooperation and Technology Transfer Prospects" roundtable [Photo provided to China.org.cn]