Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday pitched Beijing as the leader of a new, inclusive global artificial intelligence (AI) order during a keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the 2026 World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC). Seeking to challenge U.S. technological dominance, Xi pledged to help developing nations build AI capacity, warning against “new historical injustices” arising from unequal access to the fast-moving technology.
Delivering his first-ever address at the premier Shanghai summit, Xi framed China’s low-cost, open-source AI models as a global public good. He urged the international community to embrace international cooperation, noting that AI “should not be a solo performance by a single country.”
He announced: 5,000 AI training opportunities and seminar slots for developing nations over the next five years; the establishment of international AI application cooperation centers to bridge digital divides; and a partnership to share digital tech, including an AI meteorological early-warning system for 30 nations.
Addressing AI safety, Xi called for adaptive governance to ensure algorithms remain under human control, warning against autonomous systems evading oversight. He also criticized the “overstretching” of national security concepts—a clear reference to U.S. tech export curbs on Chinese firms.
