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Activity Category: AI Engagement Activity

Sberbank Cooperates with China on AI Projects

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In February 2025, Sberbank, Russia’s largest bank, announced plans to collaborate with Chinese researchers on joint AI projects, as First Deputy CEO Alexander Vedyakhin told Reuters. This partnership emerges as China’s DeepSeek disrupts the tech landscape with its low-cost AI models challenging U.S. competitors. The collaboration follows President Putin’s January directive ordering Sberbank and the Russian government to develop AI cooperation with China amid Western sanctions restricting Moscow’s access to advanced computing hardware. Under CEO German Gref, Sberbank has transformed from a Soviet-era institution into a leading Russian AI player, releasing its GigaChat model in 2023. This initiative reflects the deepening “no limits” strategic partnership between Moscow and Beijing, with both nations aiming to challenge U.S. dominance in AI as Russia, currently ranked 31st globally in AI implementation, seeks alternative technological solutions.

African Nations Pledge AI Cooperation with China

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At the three-yearly Forum on China-Africa Cooperation Summit in Beijing on September 5, 2024, China and the African Union outlined AI cooperation in the Beijing Action Plan (2025-2027). African countries welcomed China’s Global AI Governance Initiative (全球人工智能治理倡議) and supported developing countries’ rights in global AI governance. Both sides committed to bridging the AI and digital divide while jointly preventing risks, opposing technological monopolies, and building international governance frameworks with the UN as the main channel. The agreement established a China-Africa Digital Technology Cooperation Center (中非數字技術合作中心), with China agreeing to facilitate 20 digital infrastructure and transformation projects. Both sides agreed to enhance cooperation on digital literacy, cybersecurity, data security (數據安全), and cross-border data flow protocols (跨境數據流動規則). They coordinated on regulating AI applications while promoting AI’s safe use in governance, emphasizing equal access to technology development without ideological divisions. 53 African nations were reportedly in attendance at the summit. 

China-ASEAN AI Development and Governance Cooperation Seminar Held in Phnom Penh

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The China-ASEAN Artificial Intelligence Development and Governance Cooperation Seminar (中國-東盟人工智能發展與治理合作研討會) was held on December 9, 2024, in Phnom Penh, jointly organized by Cambodia’s Economic, Social and Cultural Council and the China Institute of International Studies (中國國際問題研究院). Deputy Prime Minister Vongsey Vissoth (旺西偉索) praised China’s AI achievements and called for strengthened policy coordination, research collaboration, and talent development to promote more inclusive and fair global AI governance. He highlighted that Cambodia is implementing the first phase of its “Pentagonal Strategy,” with digital economy and social development as key focus areas. The Cambodian government is advancing technological innovation, including AI, through its Digital Economy and Society Policy Framework (2021-2035), which aims to achieve five major goals: digital infrastructure development, enhanced digital trust, digital citizenship cultivation, e-government implementation, and digital business promotion.

India’s IT Ministry Hosts Deepseek on its Servers

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India announced plans to host Chinese startup DeepSeek’s (深度求索) AI models on its servers to evaluate security and safety parameters, IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said in January 2025. Under the IndiaAI Mission, which has a budget of Rs 10,372 crore ($12.1 billion), the government is procuring 18,693 GPUs to provide “affordable compute” facilities for tech companies and AI researchers. Vaishnaw emphasized that this number was sufficient for India’s AI development needs, noting that DeepSeek was built with only about 2,000 GPUs. Dismissing concerns about India being late to AI development, he stressed that being a “trusted partner” ensured continued GPU supply from companies like Nvidia despite US restrictions against certain countries. Security testing of the models would be conducted by multiple agencies, including CERT-In (Indian Computer Emergency Response Team) and the National Cyber Security Secretariat.

China and Laos Build AI Innovation Cooperation Center

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On February 23, 2025, China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region (廣西壯族自治區) and Laos signed an agreement in Vientiane to establish the China-Laos Artificial Intelligence Innovation Cooperation Center (中國—老撾人工智能創新合作中心), marking the first AI cooperation platform between China and an ASEAN nation. People’s Daily reported that the initiative aims to “systematically enhance Laos’ foundational capabilities in the intelligent era” while supporting development across various sectors. The project progressed rapidly from negotiation to signing, which Chinese officials characterize as demonstrating both countries’ commitment to deepening cooperation in intelligent technologies. The center implements China’s AI Capacity-Building Action Plan for Good and for All (人工智能能力建設普惠計劃), announced by Foreign Minister Wang Yi (王毅) in September 2024 to assist developing countries with AI development. Guangxi representatives outlined plans to establish similar centers throughout ASEAN countries to help develop “independent and controllable AI sovereignty models” (自主可控的人工智能主權大模型). The project responds to the China-ASEAN Joint Statement on Facilitating Cooperation in Building a Sustainable and Inclusive Digital Ecosystem adopted in 2024.