China and Europe have different approaches to artificial intelligence, but they share a common objective, which includes building technological capacity, strengthening competitiveness, and securing a place in the economy of the future, said Charles Michel, former president of the European Council and now distinguished professor at the China Europe International Business School, or CEIBS.
Michel made the remarks at the 12th Europe Forum 2026 in Brussels on Wednesday, themed around strategic opportunities in EU-China AI development.
"China is in a strong position, with access to critical raw materials. You innovate a lot, you innovate fast, and with the ambition to deploy AI at a large scale," he said, pointing out that Europe, meanwhile, has focused on finding a balance between innovation, privacy protection, and data governance, among others.
"We need multilateral and bilateral frameworks where we can exchange views, improve mutual understanding, reduce risks and manage competition. This is what we should continue to do between the European Union and China," Michel said.
The forum, hosted by the CEIBS, brought together policymakers, business leaders and academics to discuss how China and Europe can navigate the rapid rise of AI while maintaining economic cooperation and technological competitiveness.
