Xi Unveils AI Roadmap -World AI Conference opens in Shanghai

MONROVIA – Chinese President Xi Jinping has summoned the nations of the world to “join hands to build a just and equitable system for global AI governance,” warning that humanity has entered an unprecedented period of innovation in artificial intelligence that carries great opportunities alongside grave challenges – from living with thinking machines to closing a widening digital divide. Delivering the keynote address at the opening of the 2026 World AI Conference and High-Level Meeting on Global AI Governance in Shanghai on July 17, shared with the Liberian public by the Chinese Embassy in Monrovia, the Chinese leader unveiled sweeping pledges to the Global South and announced the birth of a new world AI cooperation body. THE ANALYST reports.

Four Observations from Shanghai

Speaking at the Grand Halls on the Huangpu River before heads of state and government, leaders of international organizations, and national delegations, President Xi said major changes unseen in a century are accelerating, and that all countries should take a people-centered approach and develop AI for the good, ensuring the technology drives shared prosperity and common security. Humanity, he said, must answer the questions posed by the times: how to get along with thinking machines, how to ensure security when algorithms join decision-making, how to meet ethical challenges through adaptive governance, and how to realize AI for all while the divide keeps widening.

To those ends, the Chinese leader offered four observations. First, nations should adhere to openness and win-win cooperation, encouraging open source, collaboration, and sharing so that all sectors and businesses benefit from AI. Second, they should strengthen risk-awareness and keep AI secure and controllable through laws, monitoring, early warning, and emergency response systems, ensuring AI remains always under human control – while jointly opposing the overstretching of national security concepts in the field. Third, they should encourage inclusiveness and mutual learning among civilizations, shaping AI’s values with humanity’s common values. Fourth, they should advocate solidarity and improve global governance, practicing true multilateralism, recognizing the central role of the United Nations, and helping Global South countries build capacity to bridge the AI and digital divides.

WAICO Is Born; Pledges to Global South

President Xi announced that, thanks to the joint efforts of all parties, the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization (WAICO) has come into being in Shanghai – a move he described as China’s answer to the call of the Global South and an important milestone in the history of AI development. Over the next five years, he pledged, China will provide developing countries with 5,000 opportunities in AI training and seminar programs; develop international AI application cooperation centers with ASEAN, the Arab League, the African Union, CELAC, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, and BRICS; and enable 30 countries to use MAZU, an AI-powered meteorological warning system.

The Chinese leader noted that this year marks the start of China’s 15th Five-Year Plan, and said China’s core smart-economy industries are now worth at least US$140 billion (RMB 1 trillion), with intelligent manufacturing becoming another hallmark of Chinese modernization. As a responsible major country, he said, China remains committed to providing international public goods relating to AI and to keeping the technology safe, secure, and controllable through continuously improved laws, regulations, and ethical principles.

World Leaders Echo the Call

Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet, Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, and United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres also addressed the opening ceremony, congratulating China on the signing of the agreement establishing WAICO and commending its contributions to global AI governance. The leaders observed that while AI could present humanity with its greatest development opportunity, it also poses potential risks, and expressed hope that the new organization will foster open, inclusive, equal-footed, and mutually beneficial cooperation that leaves no country behind.

During the conference, the Chair’s Statement of the 2026 World Artificial Intelligence Conference and High-Level Meeting on Global AI Governance was issued. On the evening of July 16, President Xi and Madame Peng Liyuan hosted a welcome banquet at the Grand Halls for the visiting dignitaries, with senior Chinese officials including Cai Qi, Ding Xuexiang, and Wang Yi in attendance, while Chen Jining presided over the opening ceremony.