UNGA, Vodafone, AI, British Universities visit China
A Beijing to Britain briefing
Hello,
There are at least two things I love that begin with ‘D’: disco and diplomacy. Every year, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) manages to itch at least one of these scratches when it meets in New York. Dignatories from around the globe gather in an effort to thrash out some consensus on various issues, action policies, and plan projects.
This was the first time in a decade a British Prime Minister did not attend. Citing diary issues, Rishi Sunak stayed in London and sent Deputy PM Oliver Dowden and Foreign Secretary James Cleverly in his place. The UK’s agenda reflected much of what we’ve come to expect from the Sunak Government on foreign and development issues: artificial intelligence, developing finances, Ukraine, and climate change.
As we examine in this briefing, the artificial intelligence strand is particularly worth understanding if you operate in the UK-China space. That’s partly because it ticks all the boxes as an area that will see significant friction between Parliament’s China sceptics, the media, the private sector, experts, and the British Government. Unfortunately, much of the debate to come over the next few years will be poorly informed in this space - and that’s before adding China’s own agenda into the mix.
Returning to UNGA and AI: clearly, this Government sees a role for the UK as a leading power in this space, helping set standards and build systems for the safe development of the technology that will radically alter our existence. In his speech on Friday, Dowden added some meat to this grand aim by attempting to articulate how he believes AI can play a role in helping developing countries. There is an unspoken undercurrent here - if the UK and other similarly minded powers choose to create AI systems that leave out the majority of developing countries, which nation do policymakers think is going to step in to fill the vacuum?
— Sam Hogg, Editor
In this week’s Briefing Note, we look at:
UNGA, AI and China
Taiwan-UK relations and activities
Hong Kong Financial Secretary in London
British universities visit China
Vodafone and Three UK merger