China’s ‘infrastructure first’ approach a major advantage in AI arms race: Davos panel

South China Morning PostCenter-RightEN 1 min read 100% complete by Vincent ChowJanuary 22, 2026 at 10:45 AM

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At the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Moonshot AI president Zhang Yutong stated that China's "infrastructure first" approach provides a significant advantage in the AI race. Speaking on a panel about China's "AI Plus" strategy, Zhang emphasized the importance of readily available and cheap electricity, facilitated by China's energy infrastructure buildout, for AI research and innovation. A Brookings Institution commentary supports this, noting China's data center electricity demand is expected to double by 2030, but its rapid energy expansion should accommodate this growth. The panel, moderated by CGTN, highlighted how China's infrastructure investments are crucial for supporting its AI development.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Guan Xin 30% China Global Television Network 30% Brookings Institution 40% Switzerland ×250% Davos ×260% World Economic Forum ×270% Moonshot AI ×380% Zhang Yutong ×390% China ×5100%

Keywords

artificial intelligence 100% infrastructure 90% china 80% energy 70% innovation 60% world economic forum 50% data centers 50% ai plus strategy 40%

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Positive

Score: 0.30

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South China Morning Post

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Center-Right (0.50)

Far LeftCenterFar Right

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90%

This article was automatically classified using rule-based analysis. The political bias score ranges from -1 (far left) to +1 (far right).

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artificial intelligence infrastructure china energy innovation world economic forum data centers ai plus strategy

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