The 2025 World AI Conference (WAIC) and the High-Level Meeting on Global AI Governance took place in Shanghai from July 26 to 28, marking significant progress in the Global AI Governance Initiative proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping. The event aimed to unite global expertise and innovation to guide AI development for the common good.
Under the theme “Global Solidarity in the AI Era,” the conference focused on ten priority areas, including scientific AI development and AI-driven industrial modernization. It provided a platform to showcase cutting-edge technologies, emerging industry trends, and forward-thinking approaches to AI governance.
A key moment was the unveiling of an action plan for global AI governance, urging coordinated efforts in 13 key areas such as empowering industries with AI, accelerating digital infrastructure, fostering a diverse innovation ecosystem, and strengthening international cooperation in AI capacity building. This plan reflects a growing international consensus on promoting global AI development and governance.
Turing Award laureate Yoshua Bengio emphasized that AI products should be considered global public goods. The challenge lies in transforming algorithmic breakthroughs into widely shared and accessible benefits. Achieving this requires a commitment to openness and inclusiveness, ensuring that more countries and communities can access and leverage AI technologies.
During the conference, the China Meteorological Administration launched its national early warning solution “MAZU” and donated an AI-powered early warning system for disaster prevention to Djibouti and Mongolia. Other innovations included intelligent aquaculture solutions, AI-powered railway safety platforms, and open-source models designed to advance inclusive AI technology.
China’s “AI+” initiative is increasingly benefiting the world, providing fresh impetus to global efforts to harness AI for good. The 2025 WAIC showcased over 3,000 AI innovations, including over 100 global and China-first debuts, highlighting a dynamic vision for global AI cooperation. The event also saw the launch of the International Open Source AI Cooperation Initiative and the establishment of the Center for Global AI Innovation Governance.
While AI presents unprecedented opportunities, it also brings new and complex risks. Balancing development and security requires broader consensus and practical solutions. At the conference, China proposed creating a global AI cooperation organization to bridge the digital divide.
China has been active in strengthening global AI governance, facilitating consensus at the UN General Assembly, co-hosting the Group of Friends for International Cooperation on AI Capacity-building, and partnering with the UN for AI training workshops. By coordinating development and security, China aims to work with all parties to establish a global framework for AI governance.
In this era of intelligence, only through global solidarity and cooperation can the world effectively seize opportunities and confront challenges. China remains committed to a people-centered approach, promoting AI for good, equity, and inclusiveness, and fostering collaborative governance for a fair and trustworthy digital future.
