Chinese President Xi Jinping used the World AI Conference in Shanghai on July 17, 2026, to position China as a responsible leader in global artificial intelligence governance. Xi’s address emphasized international cooperation and equitable access while criticizing what he described as the overstretching of national security concepts to restrict technological competition.
Xi Jinping’s Vision for Global AI Governance
Speaking to an audience of industry executives and researchers in Shanghai, Xi Jinping framed artificial intelligence as a technology that should serve humanity rather than act as a tool for singular national dominance. The Chinese leader called for a symphony of international cooperation
to address the rapid evolution of the sector, explicitly rejecting the idea that AI development should be a solo performance
by one nation, as reported by CNBC.
Xi’s address served as a direct counterpoint to rising international tensions, particularly with the United States. While CNN reported that U.S. President Donald Trump recently accused Beijing of illicitly acquiring millions of American voter files, Xi used the Shanghai summit to promote a vision of China as a responsible tech steward. He urged global partners to ensure that AI always remains under human control
and remains secure and controllable,
while warning against overstretching the national security concept in the field of AI, or placing one country’s security over that of others.
WAICO and the Diplomatic Strategy for AI
On the eve of the conference, China solidified its commitment to this diplomatic pivot by launching the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization (WAICO). According to CNBC, the organization includes 29 founding countries, such as Russia, Indonesia, and Pakistan.
George Chen, the Hong Kong-based chair of digital practice at The Asia Group consultancy, suggested that Beijing is utilizing AI as a vehicle for broader international influence. Xi sees AI as an opportunity to get more allies to compete with the US, not just in AI technology, but also in international relations—(this is) AI diplomacy,
Chen told CNN. As part of this outreach, Xi announced that China would provide 5,000 opportunities for AI training and seminars to developing nations, specifically targeting blocs like the African Union and the League of Arab States.
Market Constraints and Technological Competition
The push for international cooperation comes as Chinese firms face significant hurdles regarding hardware access. Since the U.S. implemented export controls in 2022 to restrict the sale of advanced computing chips, companies like Nvidia have seen their market share in China decline sharply. In its annual report, Nvidia confirmed it was effectively unable to compete in the Chinese data center market, noting that this foreclosure allowed local competitors to build more robust developer ecosystems that could challenge the company globally, as detailed by CNBC.
Despite these restrictions, China is attempting to close the performance gap through different strategies.
Regional Stability and Diplomatic Alignment
The tech summit follows a broader pattern of diplomatic activity by Beijing. Xi recently returned from a rare visit to North Korea, where he and Kim Jong Un emphasized the importance of their bilateral alliance. While international observers monitored the trip for signs of progress on denuclearization, state media reports focused on trade, agriculture, and technological cooperation, as reported by AP News.
This diplomatic maneuvering mirrors Xi’s broader project to position China as the primary leader for the Global South, shifting power away from Western-led democratic frameworks. According to The Guardian, Xi has hosted more than a dozen world leaders this year, framing China as a source of stability for nations looking to balance their relationships between Beijing and an increasingly unpredictable U.S. policy landscape.
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