The 2026 World Artificial Intelligence Conference and Global AI Governance High-Level Meeting (WAIC) was held in Shanghai from July 17 to 20 and officially opened today. President Xi Jinping will attend the opening ceremony of the conference and deliver a keynote speech.

This is the first time in the history of the World Artificial Intelligence Conference that the President of a country has attended and delivered a keynote speech, fully demonstrating the conference's caliber and influence. It also signals that artificial intelligence, as the core driving force of a new round of technological revolution and industrial transformation, has been elevated to a national strategic height.

Xi Jinping Attends WAIC for the First Time: AI Development Should Not Be a Solo Performance by Any Country

Today, President Xi Jinping attended the opening ceremony of the 2026 World Artificial Intelligence Conference and Global AI Governance High-Level Meeting and mentioned in his keynote speech that the Chinese often say, "A single string cannot make a melody, and a single tree cannot make a forest." The development of artificial intelligence should not be a solo performance by any country but should be a global symphony of cooperation, encouraging open source, openness, collaboration, and sharing, allowing all industries to leverage AI.

He also called for ensuring that AI always remains under human control. Countries should establish a legal framework, technical monitoring, risk alert, and emergency response system to prevent the misuse of AI.

Xi Jinping also opposes the generalization of the concept of national security, prioritizing national security over that of other countries. AI should also not harm the cultural characteristics of each country and the diversity of world civilizations.

China will cooperate with Asian, African, Latin American, and BRICS countries to help developing countries build AI capabilities, avoiding AI creating new global inequalities. The competition between China and the U.S. in AI is expanding from chips and models to open-source routes and global rules.

Xi Jinping Announces China's Support for Major Global AI Development Initiatives

Today, Chinese President Xi Jinping attended the opening ceremony of the 2026 World Artificial Intelligence Conference and Global AI Governance High-Level Meeting at the Shanghai World Expo Exhibition & Convention Center and delivered a keynote speech.

Xi Jinping pointed out that with the joint efforts of all parties, the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization was born in Shanghai. This is a significant initiative in response to the global call from the South, uniting the international community to actively promote the development and governance of artificial intelligence, which will be an important milestone in the history of AI development.

Xi Jinping announced that to further support global AI development and promote global AI capacity building, in the next five years, China will provide 5,000 AI-themed training slots for developing countries; establish an International AI Application Cooperation Center for ASEAN, the Arab League, the African Union, the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, and BRICS countries; promote the intelligent meteorological early warning system "Mazu" to be applied in 30 countries, watching over countless families and safeguarding peace around the world.

China Leads Formation of Global AI Organization with Headquarters in Shanghai, 29 Countries Join

Today, 29 countries signed an agreement to establish the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization. This is a government-led international organization headquartered in Shanghai.

Founding members include China, Russia, Brazil, Cuba, Serbia, among others. There are 10 African countries and 12 Asian countries among them.

The organization will promote international AI cooperation, capacity building, and global governance. China proposed the establishment of this organization last year and has now officially received the support of the first batch of members.

China hopes to use open-source models and technology training to help reduce the AI adoption barriers for global South countries. The AI competition between China and the U.S. has also expanded from companies and products to international organizations and rule-making.

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