The 2026 World Artificial Intelligence Conference and High-Level Meeting on Global AI Governance opened on July 17 at the Shanghai World Expo Center, running through July 20. The conference issued a Chair's Statement reflecting the consensus of participating nations. President Xi's address came at a time when AI regulation has become a central concern for governments worldwide, with rapid advances in large language models, autonomous systems, and AI-generated content raising both economic opportunities and governance challenges.
Xi emphasized that the current era is witnessing an unprecedented acceleration of technological revolution and industrial transformation, with global AI innovation entering an intensely active period. He stated that AI carries both immense opportunities and governance challenges. China believes nations should adopt a human-centered, ethical approach, making AI a driving force for shared prosperity and common security. He proposed four specific areas for international cooperation.
First, open cooperation for innovation. Xi urged nations to seize the historic opportunity, encourage open-source development and knowledge sharing, and comprehensively promote AI innovation, industrial applications, and deployment. He called for coordinated efforts to upgrade traditional industries, cultivate emerging sectors, and position for future industries, allowing AI to empower all fields of economic activity.
Second, risk awareness and safety control. The President stressed the importance of addressing both internal and external risks generated by AI. He advocated for legal frameworks, technical monitoring, risk warning systems, and emergency response mechanisms to ensure AI remains under human control. He specifically opposed the practice of overstating national security concerns in the AI domain and placing one country's security above others.
Third, inclusive development and cultural exchange. Xi called for using shared human values to shape AI's ethical framework, and for leveraging AI technology to enhance understanding between different civilizations. He envisioned a garden of civilizations where diverse cultures flourish through mutual learning.
Fourth, multilateral cooperation for global governance. Xi emphasized the need to practice genuine multilateralism, give full play to the United Nations' role, and strengthen alignment between AI development strategies, governance rules, and technical standards. He urged early agreement on a widely accepted global governance framework. A notable element of his speech was the call to help Global South nations strengthen their AI capacity, bridge the digital-intelligence divide, and promote sustainable development, warning against creating new historical injustices in the AI era.
The conference also released several documents including the International AI Ethics Governance Action Plan. WAIC 2026 features hundreds of exhibitors showcasing AI applications across healthcare, education, manufacturing, and urban management, with humanoid robots, autonomous driving systems, and large language model demonstrations drawing significant attention from attendees.
Key takeaway: Xi Jinping's four-point vision emphasizes open innovation, safety controls, cultural exchange, and multilateral governance for AI; the speech opposes overstating national security to block AI cooperation; WAIC 2026 runs July 17-20 in Shanghai, gathering global AI leaders and releasing governance frameworks.