President Xi Jinping will attend the opening ceremony of the 2026 World Artificial Intelligence Conference in Shanghai and deliver a keynote address, marking his first in-person participation since the event began. The move underscores Beijing’s growing prioritization of AI as a driver of economic growth, technological competitiveness and global rule-setting.
Xi’s return to WAIC
Xi’s decision to appear in person after previously sending a congratulatory letter signals an elevation of the conference’s political weight. Premier-level representation at WAIC in recent years highlighted the event’s importance; Xi’s presence now places it at the center of China’s strategic technology agenda.
A bigger, more ambitious WAIC
This year’s four-day conference runs alongside a high-level meeting on global AI governance and promises expanded scale: more than 140 forums, roughly 1,400 guests, some 1,100 exhibitors and over 300 products making their global debuts. The lineup reflects China’s intent to showcase domestic innovation and to attract international collaboration and investment.
Political and economic stakes
Beijing sees AI as a core element of future economic growth. Xi’s engagement with startups and incubation centers, where he described AI’s “explosive development,” frames the technology as both an industrial priority and a policy focus. Attendance at WAIC allows the leadership to align state strategy with market actors and research institutions.
Implications for technological competitiveness
Xi’s keynote will be watched for signals on funding, industrial policy and regulatory direction. Expectations include tighter integration of AI into manufacturing, services and urban planning, together with initiatives to boost domestic AI ecosystems and reduce foreign dependencies.
Toward global rule-setting
Hosting a high-level governance meeting alongside WAIC positions China to shape international norms on AI safety, standards and data governance. Xi’s appearance can be read as an effort to claim greater influence in global rule-making institutions and to present a national vision for responsible AI development.
What to watch next
Key items to monitor are policy announcements accompanying the speech, concrete commitments from Chinese firms, and any new frameworks proposed for cross-border AI governance. The interaction between state-driven strategy and private-sector innovation will determine how quickly Shanghai and China more broadly can translate rhetoric into competitive advantage.
Final takeaway
Xi Jinping’s attendance at WAIC 2026 elevates the conference from a tech expo to a strategic platform. It signals China’s ambition to steer the future of AI—from economic deployment to the shaping of international rules—while showcasing Shanghai as a focal point for the nation’s AI ambitions.
