Chinese diplomat Chen Xu, representing 80 nations, urged the advancement of high-quality artificial intelligence (AI) development to safeguard children's mental health and rights during the 55th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council convened at the Palais des Nations in Geneva. Emphasizing AI's transformative potential, Chen underscored the necessity of governing AI technology with principles of extensive consultation, joint contribution, and shared benefits, as it opens new frontiers in human progress.

Asserting children as the vanguards of humanity's future, Chen emphasized their pivotal role as primary beneficiaries and users of AI technologies. The joint statement presented three key propositions aimed at prioritizing children's interests in AI, advocating for fairness and inclusiveness in AI development, and emphasizing the importance of respecting national sovereignty and diverse cultural contexts in international AI governance.

China's initiative marks a series of concerted efforts within the Human Rights Council to champion the rights of various demographic groups through AI advancements. Notably, the broad support garnered for this statement reflects a growing consensus among UN member states regarding the critical intersection between AI development and human rights advocacy. In a similar vein, last year's initiative spearheaded by China focused on promoting the rights of people with disabilities through AI technologies during the 53rd session of the Human Rights Council.