In a subtle yet significant diplomatic pivot, China is preparing to join India’s prestigious AI summit in New Delhi next month, a move that hints at mending fences after years of friction.
The February 16-20 event will see a Chinese official team, possibly led by a science ministry deputy, confirmed through embassy channels as per reports from Asia Group expert George Chen. This breaks new ground as the first overt nod to Beijing’s involvement.
Flashback to 2020: the Ladakh standoff shattered trust, triggering India’s crackdown on Chinese tech firms. Fast forward to recent thaw—Modi and Xi’s Tianjin handshake, trilateral optics with Putin, and eased travel norms signal recovery.
Beijing’s strategy leverages SCO and similar platforms to cement its AI leadership narrative. Despite clashing with Spring Festival holidays, the delegation underscores priorities in this critical domain.
Powerhouse speakers like Bill Gates and Anthropic’s Dario Amodei elevate the summit, positioning it as a global AI reckoning. For India and China, it’s an arena to navigate competition amid calls for collaborative governance.
Analysts argue this isn’t mere optics; it’s pragmatic. With AI driving economic and security paradigms, joint forums could mitigate risks and unlock opportunities. The summit thus emerges as a litmus test for enduring rapprochement.