Li Qiang at the U.N.: China’s pitch for multilateralism and global AI

Thomas Edwards | 27th September 2025 | International
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - JULY 6: China's Premier Li looks on during Lula speech as part of the Brics Summit 2025 at Museu de Arte Moderna on July 6, 2025 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Wagner Meier/Getty Images)
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - JULY 6: China's Premier Li looks on during Lula speech as part of the Brics Summit 2025 at Museu de Arte Moderna on July 6, 2025 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Wagner Meier/Getty Images)

China’s Premier Li Qiang addressed the U.N. to advocate deeper international cooperation, reject protectionism, and propose new institutions for global AI governance.

China’s Premier Li Qiang appeared before the United Nations General Assembly to deliver what was framed as a decisive appeal for deeper global cooperation, stronger multilateral institutions, and new mechanisms for artificial intelligence governance. His address came at a moment of intensifying geopolitical rivalries, particularly between China and the United States. Li opened by invoking the 80th anniversary of the U.N. and the defeat of fascism as moral foundations for renewed international unity. He called for solidarity among nations irrespective of their systems, and warned that unilateralism and a Cold War mentality had begun to re‑emerge and disrupt established norms. He painted China as a responsible actor ready to partner with all states to uphold the authority of the U.N., strengthen rule of law, and reform global governance to enhance the voice of developing countries. In the section addressing technology, Li emphasised that breakthroughs in AI, biomanufacturing, and networ...

Subscribe to The Mace

Join the member community shaping British politics and stay ahead of what's really happening in the world of politics and public affairs, with expert analysis, breaking news, and insider insights from Westminster and Brussels. The Mace is the leading news source and resource for the government affairs industry, offering required reading and lobby intelligence for professionals.

To see what you are missing out on by not subscribing to The Mace, click here to download our full membership info-pack. This includes having no paywall on op-ed content or profiles/interviews, allowing professional profiles to be read with maximum impact and visibility by government, special advisers, MPs, peers, civil servants, and policy and political decision-makers.



End of the gilded age for Caribbean passports?  

Mace | October 20, 2026

Ahead of Commonwealth leaders gathering in Antigua, The Mace reports on how Brussels wants to stop the Caribbean “golden passport” trade

Racketeering, human rights abuse, and intimidation: Lucy Carrier-Pilkington investigates a cautionary tale about investment in Uzbekistan

Lucy Carrier-Pilkington | October 15, 2026

"The rule of law is in jeopardy" according to leading human rights expert

Trump’s Russian Diesel Deal: A Turning Point in US Policy Towards Moscow? 

Anna Bryzhko | October 15, 2026

The US says its Russian diesel deal is about bringing down fuel prices. But for Ukraine and America’s European allies, the move raises a bigger concern: whether Washington

Europe has condemned Iran’s attacks against the UK, but it’s time for action 

Lucy Carrier-Pilkington | October 13, 2026

The European Foreign Ministers have issued a joint statement condemning Iran’s violent attacks, but does a statement go far enough? 

Kaliningrad Is Where Putin Is Testing Europe’s Defences

Azeem Ibrahim OBE | October 6, 2026

Europe may already be entering a new phase of confrontation with Russia, one in which the distinction between peace and conflict becomes increasingly difficult to identify.

Britain’s growing role in Ukraine’s reconstruction: From wartime aid to business opportunities

Anna Bryzhko | September 29, 2026

As the UK commits further funding to Ukraine’s reconstruction, British companies are expanding their involvement in energy, finance and defence, creating new opportunities for long-term economic cooperation.

Burnham went to Kyiv. Now comes the harder journey to Washington

Andriy Dovbenko | September 16, 2026

The Prime Minister’s first foreign visit was a welcome act of solidarity. But for Ukraine, British friendship will be judged by whether it can help unlock the air

Why AfD’s election win in Saxony-Anhalt has upended the political consensus in Germany

James Jeffrey | September 14, 2026

After walking through Saxony, James Jeffrey is not surprised by the AfD’s dramatic election win in Germany.

Burnham vows support for Ukraine despite threats from Russia 

Ella Beadman | August 27, 2026

Andy Burnham has promised to keep the pressure on Russia despite Moscow’s “outrageous threats”, on his first official overseas visit to Ukraine as Prime Minister.

What Ukrainians really need is Burnham in Washington, defence expert says

Mace | August 27, 2026

Andriy Dovbenko is a Ukrainian-born, London-based entrepreneur who works extensively across the UK and Ukrainian defence.