Xi Jinping Launches Global AI Governance Body WAICO at Shanghai Summit

Chinese President Xi Jinping made his first personal appearance at the annual World Artificial Intelligence Conference in Shanghai on Friday, using the occasion to position China as a champion of global AI cooperation and to launch the world's first intergovernmental AI governance body.

WAICO: A New Intergovernmental AI Body

Twenty-nine countries, including Russia, Pakistan and Kazakhstan, signed an agreement Thursday to establish the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization (WAICO), which will be headquartered in Shanghai. The body is described by Chinese state media as the world's first intergovernmental organization dedicated to AI governance, designed to promote equitable access and shared standards across nations.

Analysts see the creation of WAICO as Beijing's bid to shape global AI norms in competition with Western frameworks, particularly as American export controls continue to restrict China's access to advanced chips and AI technologies.

Xi's Speech: AI Must Not Be a Solo Performance

Speaking to more than 1,400 guests and representatives from over 1,100 companies, Xi called for a collective approach to AI development and governance. He said AI development should not be dominated by any single country but should instead be a shared global endeavor.

Xi explicitly criticized the practice of invoking national security to restrict AI trade, a pointed reference to US export controls that have blocked China from the most advanced semiconductor technology. He also pledged that China would provide 5,000 AI training opportunities for developing countries over the next five years, and expand AI cooperation with ASEAN, the African Union, the Arab League, BRICS and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.

Huawei and China's AI Ambitions

During the conference, Huawei showcased its Atlas 950 SuperPoD, its most powerful AI computing cluster yet. Some technology analysts now argue that China has evolved from follower to innovator in AI, with open-source models like DeepSeek offering affordable alternatives to US systems — particularly in the Global South.

China's five-year plan through 2030 has made AI a priority technology frontier alongside quantum computing and space.

For more on the global artificial intelligence race, see our ongoing coverage.