LONDON, Sept 19 (Reuters) – British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly invited China to the Artificial Intelligence Security Summit in November.

“The UK’s approach to China is to protect our institutions and infrastructure, align with our partners and engage in what is in the UK’s national interest,” Cleverly said.

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak wants the UK to be a world leader in AI regulation, and a summit being held on November 1-2 will bring together technology executives, academics and political leaders, as well as international government bodies, to discuss the risks posed by countries. powerful country. new technology.

Cleverly, who last month became the most senior minister to visit China in five years, has advocated a new British policy of engagement with Beijing, saying efforts to isolate the world’s second-largest economy were a mistake and that China’s help was needed. in areas such as climate change and economic instability.

London has been seeking to improve its ties with China, but in recent weeks concerns have grown over Chinese activity in Britain, after it emerged that a parliamentary investigator was arrested in March on suspicion of spying for the country.

“We cannot protect British citizens from the risks of artificial intelligence if we exclude one of the leading countries in this field,” Cleverly said. “That’s why China was invited to the AI ​​Security Summit in November.”

(Reporting by William James; Writing by Sarah Young; Editing in Spanish by Aida Peláez-Fernández)