China opens global AI education service platform

Students interact with an AI-powered assistant known as "Qian Xiaowa" during a Chinese class at Qixi Township Central School in Kaihua County, east China's Zhejiang Province, April 17, 2026. (Xinhua)

HANGZHOU, May 12 (Xinhua) -- China on Tuesday announced the launch of a global AI education service platform during the 2026 World Digital Education Conference in Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province, aiming to promote cross-border sharing of high-quality educational resources and further integrate AI into education.

The launch comes as part of a broader upgrade to the Smart Education of China, a digital education platform now accessible in around 220 countries and regions. The upgraded platform expands its international services with new features, including a lifelong learning hub and a Chinese language learning community.

The conference, which runs from May 11 to 13, also saw the release of a report outlining China's policy progress and innovative practices in smart education.

An initiative on AI education was also unveiled at the event, calling for better use of AI to support well-rounded and sustainable human development. It also urged stronger efforts to bridge the global digital divide by making better use of smart education platforms to share high-quality resources and digital tools.