Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday announced the creation of the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization (WAICO) and called for fairer, more equitable global AI governance at the opening of the World AI Conference in Shanghai.
A new body for global AI governance
Xi framed WAICO as a response to calls from the Global South and described it as “an important step” toward structuring international cooperation on artificial intelligence. According to his opening remarks, 29 countries signed the organization’s founding agreement at the event. The announcement came amid the 2026 World AI Conference, which brought together more than 1,400 participants and featured over 140 forums.
Principles and priorities outlined by Xi
In his speech, Xi advocated a “people-centered” approach to AI, stressing that the technology should serve the common good, shared prosperity, and collective security. He emphasized the need to open innovation, heighten risk awareness, ensure AI is “safe and controllable,” and promote inclusion and intercivilizational exchange. He also urged a joint stance against “the abusive broadening of the concept of national security” as applied to AI.
Concrete commitments to the Global South
To help close digital divides, China pledged to offer 5,000 AI training places and seminars to developing countries over the next five years. Xi announced plans to establish international cooperation centers for AI applications with several regional blocs — ASEAN, the Arab League, the African Union, CELAC (the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States), the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, and the BRICS — and to deploy the MAZU meteorological system in 30 countries to strengthen early warning and population protection.
Industrial and technical context
Xi’s remarks were framed by China’s recent AI trajectory: in 2025, key AI industries reportedly generated more than 1.2 trillion yuan and over 6,200 companies were active nationally in the sector. He cited more than 10 billion downloads of Chinese open-source AI models to underscore the potential for international cooperation in innovation.
Reactions and diplomatic scope
The opening ceremony drew foreign leaders and officials including Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet, Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, and UN Secretary-General António Guterres. Attendees praised China’s contribution to AI governance discussions and emphasized that the opportunities and challenges presented by AI transcend national borders.
Past initiatives and remaining questions
China referenced earlier efforts such as the global initiative for AI governance launched in 2023, along with existing capacity-building and cooperation programs promoted in various formats. For now, WAICO is presented as a multilateral cooperation platform focused on AI development and governance; however, operational details — internal governance, funding, program scope, and decision-making mechanisms — were not specified in the opening address.
The Shanghai event, held annually since 2018 and themed this year “AI Partnership for a Brighter Future,” positions itself as a forum to advance international cooperation, debate governance frameworks, and explore how AI can contribute to sustainable development and shared prosperity.
