On the afternoon of April 10, 2025, the Diplomatic Academy of Viet Nam (DAV) successfully hosted China Talk 25, titled “Decoding China’s Artificial Intelligence Development.” The event welcomed the participation of numerous delegates from government agencies, research institutions, representatives of Embassies in Hanoi, as well as Vietnamese and international experts in the fields of technology and international relations. China Talk 25 was jointly organized by the Diplomatic Academy of Viet Nam, the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS) in Vietnam, and the Foundation for East Sea Studies (FESS).

In their opening remarks, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thi Lan Anh, DAV Vice President, Director-General of the East Sea Institute, and Mr. Florian Feyerabend, Resident Representative of KAS Vietnam, underscored the strategic relevance of the China Talk 25’s topic. Artificial intelligence (AI) has emerged as a transformative force, reshaping not only the global technological landscape but also national development strategies. In this context, China's rapid AI advancements present significant strategic implications for countries around the world.

The conference featured two keynote speakers: Dr. Yao Xu (Fudan Development Institute, Fudan University), joining in person, and Dr. Rebecca Arcesati (Lead Analyst, Mercator Institute for China Studies – MERICS, Germany), who participated virtually. Together, they provided a comprehensive overview of China’s AI ecosystem, examining the roles of dynamic startups, major tech conglomerates, and robust local government support policies. Their presentations also analyzed the key pillars driving China’s breakthroughs in AI, while discussing the structural challenges and prospects for China’s AI development.

Vietnamese experts in technology and international relations joined the discussion as commentators, raising critical questions regarding the sustainability of the DeepSeek model, the role of the Chinese government in steering AI development, the proactive engagement of subnational governments, and lessons Vietnam could draw in building its own science and technology capabilities.

China Talk has been a flagship academic series co-organized by DAV and KAS since 2015, playing a pioneering role in fostering research and exchanges on China. Over the years, it has contributed meaningfully to policy making and promoted a deeper, more nuanced understanding of China’s foreign policy.

China Talk 25 offered a multidimensional and in-depth analysis of China's AI development, while encouraging further academic dialogue on artificial intelligence in Vietnam.