AI should be a global 'symphony', not 'solo performance': Xi Jinping

Chinese President Xi Jinping urged global cooperation on artificial intelligence at the World AI Conference and announced AI research, training and cooperation initiatives for developing countries

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday said the development of AI should not be a "solo performance" by one country, but a "symphony of global collaboration."  Xi made these remarks while addressing the opening of the 2026 World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC), China's largest annual AI industry event, in Shanghai.

"With AI advancing at a staggering speed, we must ensure its development is positive, for the good and for humanity," he said.

It must be guided with human wisdom and international consensus, he said.

To further support AI development in the next five years, he said China will provide developing countries including members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, the Arab League, the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, the African Union, Latin American and the BRICS member countries with 5,000 research projects in AI, as well as training, seminar programmes and "cooperation centres", the Hong Kong based South China Morning Post reported.

 

Earlier, 29 countries signed an agreement in Shanghai to establish the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organisation (WAICO).

The WAICO will be an independent intergovernmental international organisation headquartered in Shanghai, according to the agreement, state-run Xinhua news agency reported.

Representatives from the 29 countries, including Kazakhstan, Laos, Pakistan, Russia and Indonesia, besides China, signed the agreement, making their countries the WAICO's founding members.

The United Nations Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, was also among representatives from countries and international organisations present at the signing ceremony.

The organisation will uphold the purposes of the UN Charter, be committed to extensive consultation and joint contribution for shared benefit and adhere to a people-centred approach, according to the agreement, Xinhua report said.

In recent years, China has made big strides in several frontier technologies, artificial intelligence (AI), electric vehicles (EVs), and battery technology, aided by the massive state support, a huge domestic market, strong manufacturing capabilities, and a large pool of engineers.

On the AI front, China has made it a national strategic priority, aiming to become the world's leading AI innovation centre with heavy investments from the government in research, computing infrastructure, semiconductor development, and talent cultivation.

Also, China has emerged as the world's largest producer and exporter of electric vehicles as its EV industry has expanded dramatically over the past decade.

Analysts say China's progress in AI, electric vehicles, and battery technology aims to shift away from a manufacturing hub to become a major technological innovator, even while facing stiff competition from the US, EU, South Korea and Japan, besides American export controls on advanced AI chips.