This video features Victor Gao (高志凯) discussing China’s strategic vision regarding BRICS, global energy, and artificial intelligence (AI).
Summary of Key Points
1. The Growing Power of BRICS and Currency
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BRICS Expansion: Gao emphasizes that BRICS is now a significant reality with 11 full members, 10 partners, and thousands of countries applying to join. He expects the bloc to gain increasing strength.
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Consensus and Stability: The group is run purely on a consensus basis, which can slow decision-making but also constitutes its strength. He hopes for deeper collaboration among BRICS energy-producing and energy-consuming nations to form a stabilizing force.
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The Dollar and SWIFT: China is not eager to push for a BRICS currency or settlement system. However, Gao warns that if countries continue to weaponize the dollar or the SWIFT system, it will inevitably push BRICS to create its own currency or settlement mechanism.
2. AI Dominance and Global Sovereignty
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Against AI Hegemony: Gao strongly rejects the notion that AI is “American intelligence” and argues that no single country should be allowed to build AI dominance. Such dominance, he contends, would be a huge violation of the sovereignty of other countries.
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Open Source AI: He advocates for AI to be open-sourced rather than closed-sourced, ensuring that all countries can benefit and cooperate in the AI transformation.
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The AI Divide: He warns nations against being caught on the “wrong side of the AI divide” and stresses that protecting sovereignty and ensuring fair AI access are critical global issues.
3. China’s Energy Strategy and Innovation
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Power Generation for AI: China is on a path to double its power generation capacity to meet the tremendous demand anticipated in the AI age.
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Leading Renewable Technologies: To achieve sustainable development without relying solely on fossil fuels, China is investing heavily in two leading technologies:
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Molten Salt Thorium Reactors: China is generating power on an experimental basis using these reactors, which are claimed to be extremely safe, removing the risks associated with traditional nuclear power.
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Fusion Reaction: Gao states that China is ahead of the United States and Germany in fusion reaction research, which could eventually manage the energy demands of future generations and be China’s biggest contribution to sustainable development.
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4. China’s Engagement with Africa
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Historical Contrast: Gao contrasts China’s relationship with Africa by noting that many European countries and the U.S. have a history of colonial rule and slavery, whereas “China does not have any skeleton in our closet in dealing with Africa.”
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Infrastructure and Development: He asserts that China has been fully engaged with Africa by building roads, highways, airports, and government buildings, which Western countries have not done.
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Future Focus: China wants all 54 African nations and their growing population to fully participate in the AI revolution, and believes this must be done in an open-sourced manner since African nations may lack the money or talent to pursue the “American way” of AI development.