Participation of the Global South in International Artificial Intelligence Governance: Challenges and China’s Choices

The purpose of this study is to examine China's role as a major technological power and a significant participant in the Global South in expanding the participation of Southern countries in the international governance of artificial intelligence. Artificial intelligence (AI) is becoming a key factor in the modern scientific and technological revolution, determining the development of the global innovation system and increasing competition for technological leadership. With the active involvement of states and non-state actors in international AI governance, the countries of the Global South find themselves in a dual position: on the one hand, they have significant development potential and are interested in inclusive global governance mechanisms.; On the other hand, they face constraints caused by insufficient development of digital infrastructure, peripheral position in global value chains, leakage of qualified personnel and external geotechnological pressure. The methodological basis of the research is institutional and structural-functional approaches that allow us to consider international AI governance as an emerging global regime, as well as elements of political economic and neorealistic analysis used to explain the distribution of technological power and interests of states. The research methods used are general scientific methods of analysis and synthesis, induction and deduction; theoretical methods of political science, including comparative analysis of state strategies and a systematic approach.; as well as empirical methods, in particular the analysis of international documents, official strategies, reports of international organizations and regulatory initiatives in the field of AI. The results of the study show that China, with significant technological resources and a multi-level model of innovative development under the strategic leadership of the state, contributes to reducing the digital divide, spreading AI technologies and institutionalizing the "southern narrative" in global discussions about AI governance. The conclusions substantiate that China's participation increases the level of institutional inclusion of the countries of the Global South, influences the balance between the tasks of technological security and development, and contributes to the formation of a more inclusive paradigm of global AI governance.The theoretical significance of the research lies in the development of ideas about the role of the states of the Global South in shaping global management regimes for new technologies and clarifying China's place in the transformation of international AI governance. The practical significance of the work lies in the possibility of using the findings in the development of national and international strategies for cooperation in the field of AI, as well as in expert-analytical and educational activities.