Xi Jinping calls for international cooperation in AI development at WAIC in Shanghai

Published 17 July 2026 · tech

Xi Jinping marked his first in-person attendance at the World ​Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) in Shanghai, where Xi shared China's vision of AI diplomacy to

Xi Jinping marked his first in-person attendance at the World ​Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) in Shanghai, where Xi shared China's vision of AI diplomacy to challenge US dominance in the sector. China's PresidentXi Jinping has called for global cooperation on Artificial Intelligence (AI) development, telling a major Shanghai forum that no single country should dominate the AI industry. Xi on Friday delivered a keynote address at the opening event of the World ​Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC), which he was attending for the first time, underpinning AI's growing strategic importance for China. What did Xi say at the WAIC? "AI development should not be a solo performance by a single country, but a symphony of international cooperation," Xi said at the gathering. To prevent the creation of what he called "new ​historical injustices" ​in AI, Xi Beijing's role in making sure that there is equity of access for developing countries when it comes to AI capacity building.

Xi said he wants to avoid China suffering 'new historical injustices' in AI Image: Ng Han Guan/AP Photo/picture alliance He announced China's plans to cooperate with several international bodies, including from Asia, Africa, Latin America and BRICS nations to provide opportunities in the AI domain. On Thursday, representatives from 29 nations inked an agreement to establish ​the World AI Cooperation Organization, headquartered in Shanghai, China's Xinhua news agency reported. The signatory nations included Russia, Belarus, ⁠Serbia, Cuba, Brazil, Venezuela, along with 12 Asian and 10 African countries. China says the intergovernmental body aims to promote international cooperation and global ​governance in AI. Can Europe keep up with the US, China in the high-tech race? To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Xi also stressed the importance of a "people-centred" approach in the development of AI technology.

"We should put in place laws and regulations, technological monitoring, early warning, and emergency response systems, in order to... ensure AI is always under human control," the Chinese leader said. The US-China AI race The conference comes as China and the United States prepare for their first government-level AI talks under US President Donald Trump's administration. Chinese AI models are attracting global users with lower costs as they catch up to the more expensive US AI offerings. The United States and European Union have imposed curbs on tech imports from China, citing national security concerns. Meanwhile, there are also growing concerns over the deployment of AI on the battlefield and its use by hackers and terrorists. "We should jointly oppose overstretching the national security concept in the field of AI or placing one country's security over that of others," Xi said on Friday. Europe's AI push could outsmart US and China To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video What is the World ​Artificial Intelligence Conference?