China outlines WAICO launch and rejects U.S. election interference claims

At a July 17 press conference in Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said President Xi Jinping attended the opening ceremony of the 2026 World AI Conference and High-Level Meeting on Global AI Governance in Shanghai and delivered a keynote speech titled "Joining Hands to Build a Just and Equitable System for Global AI Governance." Lin said Xi described major changes "unseen in a century" and said the world has entered an unprecedented period of active innovation in AI technologies. He said China's position is that all countries should take a people-centered approach, develop AI for the positive and for good, and ensure AI becomes an important driver for shared prosperity and common security.

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Lin said Xi set out four observations on global AI governance. Those included adhering to openness and win-win cooperation to boost innovation-driven development, strengthening risk awareness to ensure AI is secure and controllable, encouraging inclusiveness and mutual learning between civilizations, and advocating solidarity to improve global governance.

He said China regards itself as a responsible major country that is committed to providing international public goods related to AI. He said China has been contributing steadily to global AI governance and that, through joint efforts, the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization, or WAICO, has been established in Shanghai.

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

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Lin said China will enable 30 countries to use the AI-powered meteorologic warning system called MAZU. He said China is ready to work with all parties, with greater openness, pragmatism and vision, to respond to the opportunities and challenges of AI and create a brighter future for humanity.

On the Shanghai signing ceremony for the WAICO agreement held on July 16, Lin said Foreign Minister Wang Yi attended on behalf of the Chinese government and signed the agreement. He said representatives from 29 countries, including Kazakhstan, Laos, Pakistan, Russia and Indonesia, signed as founding members.

Lin said Secretary-General António Guterres and other representatives from countries and international organizations also attended the ceremony. He said the establishment of WAICO in Shanghai is a major move by China to answer the call of the Global South and unite the international community to promote AI development and governance, and that it will be an important milestone in AI development.

He said China is committed to advancing global AI governance under the UN framework. He cited support for adoption by consensus of the UN General Assembly resolution on enhancing international cooperation on capacity-building of artificial intelligence, and support for the implementation of the Global Digital Compact and the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

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Lin 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, while following the purposes of the UN Charter and improving alignment on AI development strategies, governance rules and technical standards.

President Donald Trump's declassified intelligence claim that China interfered in U.S. elections, Lin called it a false allegation and a serious smear that has long been proved unfounded. He said China adheres to non-interference in other countries' internal affairs, never interferes in U.S. elections and has zero interest in doing so.

Lin said the U.S. should reflect on its own behavior, stop vilifying China and framing China for election purposes, and act in ways conducive to China-U.S. relations. When asked whether the remarks could affect a possible September visit by Xi to the U.S., Lin repeated that the U.S. should stop framing China for election purposes and act in ways conducive to bilateral relations.

On a Bloomberg question about a China Daily video that appeared to depict Filipinos as monkeys, Lin said the video was not an act of the government and gave no further comment. He reiterated China's position on South China Sea arbitration, calling it a political farce masquerading as a legal process and saying the so-called award is illegal, null and void, and has no binding force.

Lin also responded to U.S. tariffs on Brazilian products imposed under Section 301, saying tariff wars have no winners and serve no one's interest. He said China stands ready to work with Brazil and other countries to uphold the multilateral trade regime with the WTO at its core and defend international fairness and justice.

On U.S. restrictions that would shorten visa duration for journalists, Lin said the measure does not serve any party's interest and that China firmly rejects the discriminatory country-specific action. He said the new U.S. rule seriously violates the three-point consensus between China and the U.S. on media issues reached in 2021, seriously affects Chinese media's normal work in the U.S., and that China reserves the right to take reciprocal countermeasures.

In response to a question about Papua New Guinea's reported closure of the Taipei Economic Office in Port Moresby, Lin said China had made its position clear before and highly commends the decision. He said the decision demonstrates that upholding the one-China principle is where international public opinion trends and the arc of history bends.

#AIgovernance #WAICO #Shanghai #SouthChinaSea #PortMoresby