China’s New Approach to AI Governance

On July 17, 2026, Chinese President Xi Jinping delivered a significant speech at the World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) in Shanghai. In his address, he outlined China’s vision for global AI governance. He called for open international cooperation and announced the establishment of the World AI Cooperation Organization (WAICO). This organization aims to foster collaboration among nations and ensure that AI development remains inclusive and beneficial for all.

Promoting Global Cooperation

Xi emphasized that the world has entered an unprecedented period of active AI development, which brings both opportunities and challenges. He stressed the importance of collaborative efforts among countries to create a fair system for managing this transformative technology. “AI development should not be a solo performance by one country but rather a symphony of international cooperation,” he stated.
The Chinese leader highlighted four key principles of China’s approach:
1. Openness and international cooperation.
2. Risk control while keeping humans at the center of decision-making.
3. Respect for cultural diversity.
4. Strengthening the role of the United Nations in shaping global AI governance rules.

Supporting the Global South

Alongside these initiatives, China announced its program to support countries in the Global South. This includes 5,000 training programs, international cooperation centers, and expanded access to Chinese AI technologies. The establishment of WAICO in Shanghai is seen as a response to requests from these nations.
“We have created WAICO through joint efforts,” Xi said. “This marks an important step by China in response to the call from the Global South.”

The Geopolitical Implications

Xi’s speech comes amid intensifying competition between China and the United States for technological leadership. Bloomberg reports that Chinese language models have gained significant traction among American companies through platforms like OpenRouter, driven by Beijing’s promotion of cost-effective alternatives to US models.
Moreover, China is expanding its own AI ecosystem with plans to invest approximately 2 trillion yuan ($295.3 billion) in data center networks over five years.

Diverse Reactions from Experts

The reaction within the tech community was mixed following Xi’s address. Some experts praised China’s focus on open-source technologies and its commitment to sharing advancements with developing countries. However, others viewed this initiative primarily as a tool for geopolitical influence.
Analyst Kyle Chan urged consideration of Xi’s speech through China’s foreign policy lens: “This speech is less about artificial intelligence itself than using technological transformation to advance China’s geopolitical goals.”
In recent months, China has been increasing its presence in the AI field even more prominently since DeepSeek attracted $7.4 billion in investments — making its founder Liang Wenfeng one of today’s wealthiest creators worldwide within this domain alone!
Ultimately though what remains clear from these developments thus far? The growing global competition surrounding cutting-edge innovations such as those found within Artificial Intelligence continues unabated across various sectors worldwide today more than ever before!