The 2026 World Artificial Intelligence (AI) Conference and the High-Level Meeting on Global AI Governance took place in Shanghai from July 17 to 20, drawing participants from over 100 countries and international organizations, including heads of state, government officials, business leaders, scholars, and researchers. Chinese President Xi Jinping attended the opening ceremony and delivered the keynote address, emphasizing the need for a people-centered and progressive approach to AI development. He called for AI to serve as a driver of common prosperity and global security, advocating for the establishment of a fair and equitable international governance framework for artificial intelligence.

During the conference, representatives signed an agreement establishing the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organisation (WAICO), identified as the first intergovernmental international body dedicated to AI. WAICO’s primary objective is to assist countries in the Global South by accelerating their AI capacities in innovation, application, and governance.

In conjunction with the conference, China’s National Development and Reform Commission unveiled an Action Plan for the Cooperative Development of Artificial Intelligence. This plan outlines eight priority actions, including the supply of high-quality data, promotion of inclusive intelligent computing, open-source ecosystem sharing, AI empowerment, talent development, rule-making collaboration, security governance, and the promotion of beneficial AI. The overarching aim is to enhance international cooperation, reduce the digital divide, and foster sustainable development through AI.

Marking the 70th anniversary of AI’s inception, the conference highlighted AI’s growing role as a key force in scientific and industrial transformation. China, recognized as the world’s largest manufacturing economy for 16 consecutive years, hosts a comprehensive industrial ecosystem that supports widespread AI application, providing a competitive edge in the global AI landscape. Chinese officials portrayed the country as a leader in advancing global AI governance and technology.

China’s approach to AI governance centers on principles of openness, sharing, and benevolence. The Chinese government referenced several initiatives, including the 2023 Global Artificial Intelligence Governance Initiative, which promotes AI development that is safe, controllable, inclusive, and equitable through broad consultation and shared benefits. China has also launched programs such as the AI Capacity Building for All Initiative and the AI+ International Cooperation Initiative to foster cooperation and capacity-building worldwide.

A notable feature of the Shanghai event was the display of over 3,000 exhibits and more than 300 new AI products making their global debut. China’s emphasis on open innovation was underscored by the reported cumulative downloads of its open-source AI models exceeding 10 billion, reflecting a strategy aimed at avoiding technological monopolies and enhancing collective human well-being.

Chinese innovations in AI are being integrated across various regions, including Southeast Asia, Latin America, and Africa, addressing practical needs in agriculture, energy, and infrastructure. Examples include the deployment of plant-protection drones using China’s BeiDou Navigation Satellite System to improve farming efficiency, intelligent operation systems for local power grids developed by State Grid Guangming Power, and Huawei’s introduction of smart railway systems aimed at enhancing safety and operational efficiency.

Highlighting the potential for expanded AI collaboration, Chinese officials pointed to promising future partnerships, particularly with Arab countries, to align development strategies, boost scientific innovation, expand AI applications across industries, and extend smart technologies to households globally.

While the conference and associated initiatives focus on fostering inclusive development and closing technological gaps, some observers caution that China’s dominant role in AI patent holdings—reportedly accounting for 60% of global AI patents—raises questions about global competition and governance dynamics. Nonetheless, China positions itself as an active promoter of multilateral cooperation aimed at making AI a shared resource benefiting all nations.