Top Chinese Officials Vow Cooperation on Global AI Governance

Credit: Ti Gong

Caption: The 2026 World Artificial Intelligence Conference High-Level Meeting on Global AI Governance was held in Shanghai on Saturday,

Chinese officials expressed the country's willingness for international cooperation in the development and governance of artificial intelligence over the weekend. They were speaking at the 2026 World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC 2026) in Shanghai.

Yin Hejun, China's Minister of Science and Technology, quoting President Xi Jinping's keynote speech at the WAIC 2026 opening ceremony, said that China has always placed equal emphasis on AI development and governance. It boosts scientific and technological innovation in AI, fully implements the Global AI Governance Initiative, and actively promotes international cooperation on AI governance.

At the High-Level Meeting on Global AI Governance on Saturday, Yin voiced the hope that all participants will join hands by focusing on people and upholding AI for Good. They should together advance inclusive growth to close the North-South digital-intelligent divide, boost risk-mitigation tech for safe, controllable AI, and foster open, trust-based collaborative governance for shared progress.

China's Assistant Foreign Minister Liu Bin said "as a responsible major country, China stands ready to work with the international community and make sustained efforts and positive contributions to advance global AI governance."

The World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization would provide more international public goods, support capacity building in the Global South, help bridge the digital and AI divide, and ensure that AI truly benefits people in all countries, he added.

On Friday, Xi announced that over the next five years, China will provide 5,000 AI training opportunities for developing countries, establish international AI application cooperation centers with several regional organizations and promote an AI-powered meteorological early-warning solution in 30 countries.

Shanghai Mayor Gong Zheng said the city that has hosted the WAIC for nine consecutive years will vigorously advance the all-round empowerment of all industries through AI, and take deeper part in shaping the global AI governance system with a more open mindset and forward-looking vision.