UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres arrived in Shanghai on Thursday to participate in WAIC 2026 (World Artificial Intelligence Conference) and the High-Level Meeting on Global AI Governance, a summit focused on the international governance of artificial intelligence.
Official reception at the airport and immediate agenda
On arrival at Shanghai Pudong International Airport, Guterres was received by China’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations and senior officials from the Shanghai municipal government. His appearance at WAIC 2026 is part of an agenda centered on high-level discussions about the international rules and mechanisms that will shape AI governance.
Global AI governance: Guterres’s priority
Guterres has long advocated for stronger global governance of artificial intelligence. Under his leadership, the UN has launched two key initiatives referenced during his visit: the Global AI Governance Dialogue and the International Scientific Panel on AI. These platforms are designed to facilitate communication between countries, build consensus, and expand international cooperation on the ethical, technical, and regulatory challenges posed by AI.
China’s stance on governance and the “AI-for-good” approach
China says it supports an international order anchored in the UN and, according to official statements, favors a human-centered, “AI-for-good” approach to reinforce AI governance within the UN framework. That posture accompanies Guterres’s reception and signals Beijing’s intended role in ongoing international AI discussions.
WAIC 2026
WAIC 2026 brings together industry leaders, policymakers, researchers and civil society to debate AI innovation, risks, standards, and governance.
