The UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, Switzerland. Photo: VCG

Chinese ambassador Chen Xu called for the high-quality development of artificial intelligence (AI), assistance in promoting children's mental health, and protection of children's rights while delivering a joint statement on behalf of 80 countries at the 55th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) on Thursday.

Chen, China's permanent representative to the UN Office in Geneva and other international organizations in Switzerland, said that artificial intelligence is a new field of human development and should adhere to the concept of consultation, joint construction, and shared benefits, while working together to promote the governance of artificial intelligence.

The new generation of children has become one of the main groups using and benefiting from AI technology. The joint statement emphasized the importance of children's mental health issues.

In the joint statement, Ambassador Chen offered three proposals on the promotion of children's rights through AI. The first is to the principle of child-centeredness, uphold AI for children, and play an important role of AI in counseling children's mental health.

The second proposal stressed to adhere to fairness and inclusiveness, strengthen exchanges and cooperation, provide technical support to developing countries, share experiences and good practices, and bridging the intelligence gap.

The third one is to adhere to unity in diversity, respect national sovereignty, laws, national conditions, and historical, religious, and cultural backgrounds, and strengthen international governance of AI on this basis.

The joint statement on Thursday is among a series of speeches on the promotion of specific group rights through AI initiated by China at the Human Rights Council, which has received wide support and praise from UN member states.

China previously initiated a joint statement on the promotion of the rights of persons with disabilities through AI at the 53rd session of the Human Rights Council.

Global Times