On the morning of July 17, 2026, President Xi Jinping attended the opening ceremony of the 2026 World Artificial Intelligence Conference and the high-level meeting on global AI governance, held at the Grand Halls complex in Shanghai, and delivered a keynote speech.
The rising waters of the Huangpu River heralded the beginning of a new chapter, and the Grand Halls welcomed guests from near and far.
President Xi Jinping took a group photo with heads of state and government, leading representatives of international organizations, and leaders of delegations from participating countries.
Amidst warm applause, he then delivered a keynote speech titled "Let Us Join Forces to Build a Fair and Equitable Global AI Governance System."
President Xi Jinping stated that profound changes are accelerating across the globe, unlike anything seen in an entire century. A new round of technological revolution and industrial transformation is progressing at an even faster pace, and the world has entered a period of unprecedented intensive innovation in artificial intelligence technology. All of this brings enormous opportunities, but also challenges in governance. Humanity must answer the questions that our time poses: How do we coexist with intelligent machines? How do we ensure safety when algorithms participate in decision-making? How do we address ethical challenges associated with technologies through adaptive governance? How do we ensure that artificial intelligence is accessible to all, even as inequalities continue to deepen? According to China's view, all countries should adopt a people-centered approach and develop artificial intelligence in a positive way for the benefit of society. We must ensure that AI becomes a significant driving force for shared prosperity and shared security. We should join forces to build a fair and equitable global AI governance system.
In this context, President Xi Jinping put forward four proposals:
First, we should adhere to the principle of openness and mutually beneficial cooperation and promote innovation-based development. We must seize this precious historical opportunity to support open source solutions, openness, collaboration, and sharing. We should facilitate technological innovation, industrial development, and the application of artificial intelligence in specific scenarios. We must coordinate efforts to promote the transformation and modernization of traditional industries, support the emergence and growth of new industries, and proactively plan for the development of future industries, so that all sectors and businesses can benefit from artificial intelligence.
Second, we should enhance awareness of risks and ensure that artificial intelligence is safe and controllable. We must take seriously the various inherent and secondary risks that AI may pose. It is necessary to establish laws and regulations, systems for technological oversight, early warning, and response to emergencies, thereby strengthening the security boundary, preventing abuse and harmful use, and ensuring that artificial intelligence always remains under human control. We should jointly oppose the unwarranted expansion of the concept of national security in the field of AI, and against any country placing its own security above the security of others.
Thirdly, we should promote inclusivity and mutual understanding between civilizations. The values of artificial intelligence must be shaped based on the common values of humanity, and we should effectively use AI technologies to strengthen understanding, tolerance, exchange, and sharing among all civilizations. We should take great care of the "garden of civilizations" so that the beauty of each can be appreciated and shared.
Fourthly, we should promote solidarity and improve global governance. We must practice true multilateralism and recognize the important role of the United Nations. We should strengthen coordination and alignment of AI development strategies, regulatory frameworks, and technical standards to create a global governance framework based on consensus as soon as possible, ensuring that this cutting-edge technology better serves humanity. We must help countries in the Global South build capacity, bridge the digital divide in access to artificial intelligence and digital technologies, promote sustainable development, and prevent new historical injustices from emerging in the field of AI.
President Xi Jinping emphasized that this year marks the beginning of China's 15th five-year plan. This plan outlines the country's economic and social development for the next five years and presents enormous opportunities for the international community. In recent years, China has promoted the effective interaction between market efficiency and good governance, strengthened innovation in artificial intelligence, actively promoted the AI Plus initiative, and built a healthy ecosystem where all stakeholders can thrive together. Key sectors of the intelligent economy are now valued at at least one trillion yuan.
Intelligent manufacturing in China has become another prominent symbol of Chinese modernization. At the same time, China attaches great importance to safety in the development of artificial intelligence. We are constantly improving laws, regulations, policies, mechanisms, rules for practical application, and ethical principles to ensure that AI is safe, reliable, and controllable. As a responsible major country, China continues to provide international public goods related to artificial intelligence and consistently contributes to global AI governance.
President Xi Jinping pointed out that thanks to the joint efforts of all stakeholders, the World Alliance for International Cooperation on Artificial Intelligence (WAICO) has been established in Shanghai. This is an important step taken by China to respond to the challenges faced by the Global South and to unite the international community in strongly supporting the development and governance of artificial intelligence. It will be a significant milestone in the history of AI development. Over the next five years, China will provide developing countries with 5,000 places in educational and training programs focused on AI to further support global AI development and capacity building in this area.
In collaboration with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, the League of Arab States, the African Union, the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, and the BRICS group, it will establish international centers for cooperation in the use of AI. It will also enable thirty countries to utilize the MAZU meteorological early warning system based on artificial intelligence. China is ready to be more open, take practical steps, and approach this issue with a broader vision. We are prepared to cooperate with all parties, seize the opportunities that the development of artificial intelligence offers, jointly address challenges, and work together to create a brighter future for humanity.
The opening ceremony was also attended by Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet, Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, and United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres. They warmly congratulated the organizers on holding the inaugural signing ceremony of the Agreement on the Establishment of the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization in Shanghai, praised China's significant contribution to global AI governance, and supported the initiatives and measures proposed by President Xi Jinping. The participating officials stated that artificial intelligence can offer humanity unprecedented opportunities for development, but also poses potential risks. China is committed to developing AI for the benefit of society and all people, adhering to the principles of inclusivity, safety, reliability, and controllability. It actively helps developing countries strengthen their capabilities and promotes international cooperation in the field of artificial intelligence, demonstrating the responsibility of a major country.
AI technologies should be shared and managed by all countries so that all states can benefit fairly from them, serve sustainable development for all humanity, and help bridge global disparities in access to AI and digital technologies, as well as the gap between the Global North and South. The opportunities and challenges associated with artificial intelligence know no borders, and therefore all parties should seize and address them together. The participants expressed hope and confidence that WAICO will play a significant role in this regard and promote open, inclusive, equitable, and mutually beneficial cooperation to create a safe, prosperous, and beautiful future where no country is left behind.
During the conference, a statement from the Chair of the 2026 World Artificial Intelligence Conference and a high-level meeting on global AI governance were issued.
In the evening of July 16, President Xi Jinping and his wife, Peng Liyuan, hosted a welcoming banquet for foreign dignitaries attending the conference at the Grand Halls complex.
The above events were also attended by Cai Qi, Ding Xuexiang, and Wang Yi.
Chen Jining presided over the opening ceremony.
gnews.cz/CMG https://www.fmprc.gov.cn/mfa_eng/xw/zyxw/202607/t20260717_11984910.html Translation: legacy (English)