China has placed the United Nations at the center of its AI governance strategy, saying it intends to consult and cooperate with other countries through the UN to address major issues shaping the future of artificial intelligence, Chinese UN Ambassador Fu Cong said at a New York press briefing.
The UN as a central platform for AI governance
Fu Cong explained that Beijing views the United Nations as “the main channel” and “the principal platform” for global AI governance. Speaking to representatives from more than 70 countries and international organizations, he emphasized principles of transparency, open‑source cooperation, mutual benefit, and shared contribution.
A continuation of the Shanghai summit
Held two weeks after the World AI Conference and the high‑level meeting on global AI governance in Shanghai, the briefing framed the Shanghai event as more than a talking shop. According to Fu, the Shanghai conference helped facilitate the international flow of innovation resources and raised the central question of how to ensure AI benefits all of humanity.
WAICO: a new intergovernmental body
Among the notable outcomes from Shanghai, Fu announced the launch of the World AI Cooperation Organization (WAICO), described as the first intergovernmental organization dedicated to AI. Twenty‑nine countries have signed the founding convention. The ambassador said WAICO is intended to complement the UN’s governance work by focusing on capacity building, policy dialogue, technical cooperation, and practical AI applications, and that all countries are invited to participate.
Capacity and priorities of the Global South
At the briefing, several developing‑country delegations emphasized the importance of the Shanghai commitments for access to resources. Moses Jeres, adviser to Zambia’s UN mission, pointed to a lack of computing infrastructure as Africa’s primary obstacle, beyond ambition or talent. (The source text ends mid‑sentence after a remark by Pakistan’s permanent representative, Asim Iftikhar Ahmad; please provide the remainder if you would like a complete translation.)
