Chinese President Xi Jinping emphasized the importance of international cooperation on artificial intelligence (AI) development and governance during the opening of the World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) in Shanghai on Friday. Xi called for a collaborative global approach, cautioning against allowing AI to be dominated by any single country and criticizing what he described as the “overstretching” of national security concerns in the AI sector.
“The development of artificial intelligence should not be a solo performance by any single country but rather a symphony of global cooperation,” Xi said, urging the global community to reject placing one nation’s security interests above others. His address underscored China’s ongoing commitment to expanding AI capabilities and governance frameworks in partnership with other countries.
The WAIC, which runs through Monday, brings together more than 1,000 Chinese technology companies, officials, and researchers, along with international attendees including U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres and leaders from Kazakhstan, Cambodia, and Thailand. The event showcases advancements such as Huawei’s Atlas 950 AI computing system and new AI models from Chinese startups like Moonshot AI, which launched the Kimi K3 model with 2.8 trillion parameters, positioning it among the world’s largest open-source AI systems.
Ahead of the conference, a group of 29 countries, including Russia, Pakistan, and Kazakhstan, formalized the establishment of the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization, headquartered in Shanghai. The initiative aims to promote "healthy and orderly" AI development and can be seen as a counterpart to the U.S.-led Pax Silica framework, which focuses on strengthening AI-related supply chains with allied nations. Analysts noted the organization reflects China’s broader strategy to position itself as a reliable AI partner for developing countries in Asia, Africa, Latin America, and beyond.
In his speech, Xi pledged that China would provide AI training opportunities and technology access to developing nations, including early warning meteorological AI tools for 30 countries over the next five years. He framed these efforts as part of a wider goal to avoid “historical injustice in AI” and foster equitable participation in technological progress.
The conference also highlighted the competitive dynamics between China and the United States. Trade restrictions from the U.S. and European Union have limited China’s access to advanced AI tools, motivating China to accelerate its indigenous innovation. While Chinese AI models have made significant strides and gained traction globally due to their lower costs and open-source availability, U.S. firms remain influential but face regulatory scrutiny over potential security risks posed by their models.
Some experts at the conference advocated for stronger international AI governance akin to regulations in sectors like nuclear power, emphasizing laws, monitoring, and emergency response mechanisms to keep AI safely under human control. Meanwhile, others argued that a single global regulatory framework is unlikely given differing national interests.
The event illustrated the evolving landscape of AI development, where China seeks both technological leadership and a governance role amid intensifying strategic competition and growing global demand for AI integration.