Published on: 2026-07-20
Source: People’s Republic of China — Translation
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
The World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC 2026) and the High-Level Conference on Global AI Governance, held in Shanghai from July 17 to 20, have already become one of the main international events in the field of artificial intelligence. If a few years ago the main focus was on the technological race and competition among the largest powers, today the world agenda centers on issues of international regulation, security, and equitable access to new technologies.
It is precisely in this context that the speech of the Chairman of the PRC, Xi Jinping, at the forum’s opening ceremony should be viewed. His programmatic speech effectively outlined China’s vision for the future of global artificial intelligence governance, where the key principles are openness, multilateral cooperation, and inclusive development. The main political event of the forum’s first days was the announcement of the establishment of the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization. Essentially, China proposed forming a new international institution that will serve as a platform for coordinating state policies, technology exchange, developing unified standards, and fostering cooperation in the field of AI. This indicates that Beijing aims to participate not only in the technological development of the industry but also in shaping the global rules for its operation.
In his speech, Xi Jinping outlined four key issues that, in his opinion, will determine the future of humanity: how humans can coexist with intelligent machines; how to ensure safety when algorithms make decisions; how regulation should keep pace with the rapid development of technology; and how to make the benefits of artificial intelligence accessible to all countries without deepening the digital divide.
China’s response to these challenges was a concept of global governance based on four principles. The first involves openness and mutually beneficial cooperation, support for open source, joint research, and broad implementation of technologies across all sectors of the economy. The second emphasizes security — improving legislation, establishing risk monitoring systems and response mechanisms while maintaining human control over artificial intelligence. The third focuses on developing international humanitarian cooperation, using AI to strengthen mutual understanding between civilizations and expand cultural exchange. The fourth involves enhancing global governance with the central role of the UN, coordinating national strategies, technical standards, and international regulations.
It is fundamentally important that Beijing opposes the fragmentation of the global technological space. In his speech, Xi Jinping called for abandoning the practice of using national security issues to limit international cooperation in the field of artificial intelligence. Instead, China proposes to develop open research, joint innovations, and technology exchange, viewing AI as a resource for global development rather than exclusively as an instrument of geopolitical competition.
Special attention was given to Global South countries. China announced that over the next five years it will provide developing countries with 5,000 educational opportunities in AI-related specialties. There are also plans to create international cooperation centers for ASEAN countries, the League of Arab States, the African Union, CELAC, SCO, and BRICS. Additionally, Beijing intends to implement the “Mazu” intelligent early warning system for weather phenomena in 30 countries.
These initiatives reflect China’s broader strategy to reduce digital inequality. In the Chinese concept, the development of artificial intelligence should not lead to the emergence of a new technological gap between developed and developing countries. On the contrary, access to technology is seen as one of the conditions for sustainable global development.
Equally important is the internal context. The year 2026 marks the start of the implementation of the 15th Five-Year Plan, in which artificial intelligence occupies a central place in the modernization of the economy. China continues to promote the “AI+” initiative, accelerating the adoption of intelligent technologies in industry, the service sector, and government administration. Already today, the volume of key sectors of the country’s intelligent economy has exceeded one trillion yuan, while simultaneously improving the legislative and ethical framework governing the development of artificial intelligence.
The high international status of the forum was confirmed by the participation of the President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Prime Minister of Cambodia Hun Manet, Prime Minister of Thailand Anutin Charnvirakul, UN Secretary-General António Guterres, as well as leaders of international organizations and delegations from dozens of countries. Their speeches demonstrated broad support for the idea of collective governance of artificial intelligence and reducing the global digital divide.
The Shanghai conference shows that today the global competition in the field of artificial intelligence goes far beyond the development of new models and the increase in computational power. Increasingly important are the ability to form international institutions, propose regulatory rules, and unite countries around common principles for the development of technologies. This is precisely why WAIC 2026 can already be seen as an important milestone in shaping a new architecture for global AI governance. The creation of the World Organization for AI Cooperation, the focus on openness, support for Global South countries, and the strengthening of multilateral mechanisms indicate China’s aspiration to become one of the key architects of the future global digital order.
Author: Anusherovno Rasulov
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