China launches WAICO in Shanghai as Xi outlines global AI governance push

China said the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization has been established in Shanghai after a signing ceremony held on July 16. Foreign Minister Wang Yi attended on behalf of the Chinese government and signed the agreement.

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Representatives from 29 countries, including Kazakhstan, Laos, Pakistan, Russia and Indonesia, signed as founding members. The ceremony also drew Secretary-General António Guterres and representatives from other countries and international organizations.

In Beijing's telling, the launch is tied to a wider push for global AI governance and international cooperation. The remarks were delivered at Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lin Jian's regular press conference on July 17.

The session focused heavily on the opening ceremony of the 2026 World AI Conference and High-Level Meeting on Global AI Governance in Shanghai. Lin said President Xi Jinping attended the opening ceremony in Shanghai and delivered a keynote speech titled Joining Hands to Build a Just and Equitable System for Global AI Governance.

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He said Xi described a world in which major changes unseen in a century are accelerating, while the latest round of technological revolution and industrial transformation is advancing rapidly. According to Lin, Xi said the world has entered an unprecedented period of active innovation in AI technologies.

He said this brings major opportunities as well as governance challenges, and that China believes all countries should take a people-centered approach to AI development. Lin said Xi stressed that AI should be developed for the positive and for good, and should serve as an important driver for shared prosperity and common security.

He said Xi called for a just and equitable system for global AI governance. Lin said Xi set out four observations for that purpose: adherence to openness and win-win cooperation to boost innovation-driven development; strengthened risk awareness to keep AI secure and controllable; inclusiveness and mutual learning between civilizations; and solidarity to improve global governance.

Lin said Xi described China as a responsible major country committed to providing international public goods related to AI and said China has been contributing steadily to global AI governance. He said the WAICO establishment in Shanghai was made possible by joint efforts from various parties.

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Lin said China will provide developing countries with 5,000 opportunities in AI training and seminar programs over the next five years. He also said China will develop international AI application cooperation centers with ASEAN, the League of Arab States, the African Union, the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and BRICS.

He said China will also enable 30 countries to use the AI-powered meteorologic warning system known as MAZU. Lin said China is ready to work with all parties to respond to AI opportunities and challenges and to build what he called a brighter future for humanity.

Lin said leaders from Kazakhstan, Cambodia and Thailand, along with the UN Secretary-General, addressed the WAIC event. He said they offered warm congratulations on the signing ceremony for the agreement establishing WAICO in Shanghai and praised China's contribution to global AI governance.

On the relationship between WAICO and the UN framework, Lin said China is committed to advancing global AI governance under the UN framework. He said Beijing supports adoption by consensus of the UN General Assembly resolution on enhancing international cooperation on capacity building in artificial intelligence and supports implementation of the Global Digital Compact and the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Lin also said China will work with the founding members for the early operation of the organization. He said the WAICO initiative is another example of China's efforts to build a community with a shared future for humanity and implement the Global Governance Initiative.

The press conference also covered U.S. accusations of Chinese interference in American elections. Lin rejected the claims as a false allegation and a serious smear, saying China adheres to non-interference in other countries' internal affairs and has zero interest in U.S. elections.

Asked whether those comments could affect a possible September visit by Xi to the United States, Lin repeated that the U.S. should stop framing China for election purposes and act in ways conducive to China-U.S. relations. He also said China rejects discriminatory country-specific U.S. restrictions on journalists and reserves the right to take reciprocal countermeasures.

On trade, Lin said tariff wars have no winners after the United States announced another unilateral tariff on Brazilian products under Section 301. He said China stands ready to work with Brazil and other countries to uphold the multilateral trade regime with the WTO at its core.

Lin also declined to comment on a China Daily video criticized by the Philippines, saying it was not an act of government. Separately, he repeated China's position that the South China Sea arbitration was a political farce and that the so-called award is illegal, null and void, and has no binding force.

On Papua New Guinea's decision to close the Taipei Economic Office in Port Moresby, Lin said China highly commends the move. He said it demonstrates, in China's view, that upholding the one-China principle is where international public opinion trends and where history bends.

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