WAICO — A Milestone in Global AI Cooperation
Last week, Shanghai was the center of global attention, as it hosted the 2026 World Conference on Artificial Intelligence and the High-Level Conference on Global Governance of Artificial Intelligence, where Chinese President Xi Jinping delivered a keynote speech. Simultaneously, the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization (WAICO) was officially established in Shanghai. The organization's founding members included 29 countries, including Russia, Kazakhstan, Pakistan, and Indonesia. UN Secretary-General António Guterres and representatives of other countries and international organizations witnessed this historic moment.
As Chinese President Xi Jinping emphasized, the establishment of WAICO meets the needs of our time. China took this significant step in response to calls from countries in the Global South for consolidated international efforts in the development and governance of AI, which undoubtedly marks a significant milestone in the history of its development.
Looking back through history, every scientific and technological revolution has had a profound impact on human society. Currently, AI technological innovation worldwide has entered a period of dynamic iteration. Modern intelligent technologies, capable of connecting everything, offer enormous opportunities for development. At the same time, the rapid development of AI poses a number of urgent questions for the international community that must be addressed collectively: how to build relationships between humans and machines, how to ensure safety, how to improve ethical regulation, and how to make digital benefits accessible to all.
In AI development, China consistently adheres to the principle of "people first, AI for good and progress." First, it adheres to openness and mutual benefit, encourages innovative development, and widely implements AI across all economic sectors. Second, it strengthens risk awareness, ensures security and governance, and resists attempts to blur the boundaries of national security in the AI sphere. Third, it promotes openness and tolerance, fosters complementarity among civilizations, and preserves the diversity of civilizations. Fourth, it demonstrates solidarity and mutual support in improving global governance, implements genuine multilateralism, and promotes narrowing the intellectual gap in countries of the Global South.
China has made significant progress in the development and practical application of AI technologies. Today, the value of key sectors of China's "smart economy" has already exceeded one trillion yuan, and the "AI Plus" project is rapidly advancing. At the same time, China pays close attention to both development and security, constantly improving legislation and regulations, application standards and ethical norms, ensuring the safety, reliability and controllability of AI.
China stands ready to seize the opportunities offered by AI development, working with all international partners. Established at China's initiative, WAICO is crucial for the further development of AI and the expansion of international cooperation in this field. Over the next five years, China will provide 5,000 training places for developing countries to participate in AI-focused courses; in cooperation with ASEAN, the Arab League, the African Union, CELAC, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, and BRICS, it will establish international cooperation centers on AI applications; and it will promote the implementation of the Intelligent Weather Early Warning System (MAWS) in 30 countries, thereby supporting the open development of AI worldwide through concrete actions.
AICO is an international organization open to cooperation with all partners and based on the principle of mutual benefit. Its goal is to develop broad international cooperation and improve global governance in AI, so that AI technologies can serve the well-being of all humanity and the development of civilization.
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People's Republic of China to Turkmenistan Ji Shumin
