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Shanghai Hosts 2026 World Artificial Intelligence Conference, Launches Global AI Cooperation Organization
When the sun rose over Shanghai on July 17, 2026, the city that has long been a crucible for artificial‑intelligence research opened its doors to the world. The World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) and the High‑Level Meeting on Global Governance of Artificial Intelligence ran until Monday, July 20, drawing more than 100 delegations from governments, international organisations and industry. Leaders in attendance included Kazakhstan’s President Kassym‑Jomart Tokayev, Cambodia’s Prime Minister Hun Sen, Thailand’s Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, UN Secretary‑General António Guterres, and Russia’s Assistant to the President Maxim Oreshkin.
WAIC has been held annually in Shanghai since 2018 and is organised by the Chinese central government, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the China Association for Science and Technology and the Shanghai Municipal People’s Government. The 2026 edition marked the first time the conference was coupled with a large technology exhibition, featuring more than 300 product launches and live demonstrations of embodied intelligence.
During the opening ceremony, President Xi Jinping addressed the assembled audience. He outlined China’s people‑centred approach to AI, stressing that the technology should be harnessed for good and progress. Xi called for international cooperation to build a fair and rational governance system. He also announced that China would allocate 5,000 participation quotas for exchange programmes and establish cooperation centres with partners from ASEAN, the Arab League, the African Union, CELAC, BRICS and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) over the next five years.
At the High‑Level Meeting, SCO Deputy Secretary‑General Oleg Kopylov highlighted the organisation’s role in AI collaboration. He referenced the Council of Heads of State’s statement on deepening cooperation, adopted at the SCO Summit in Tianjin in 2025, and noted the SCO’s readiness to unite states, international organisations, science and business to create a secure, fair and inclusive digital future.
On the eve of the conference, representatives of 29 countries signed the Agreement on the Establishment of the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization (WAICO). The signatories included 11 SCO member states—Belarus, Cambodia, Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Myanmar, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan—alongside participants from the African Union, ASEAN, the Arab League, CELAC and BRICS. The agreement states that WAICO will be guided by the UN Charter, will rely on a mechanism of consultations, will pursue common benefit and will adhere to a people‑centred approach.
WAICO’s launch follows a proposal made by Chinese Premier Li Qiang in 2025, who suggested creating an international body to coordinate AI research, policy and industry. The organisation’s headquarters will be in Shanghai, and its founding members have pledged to share best practices, standardise regulatory frameworks and promote responsible AI development.
The conference also served as a platform for the Shanghai Secretariat to engage with high‑ranking representatives from SCO member states and other international organisations. Interviews conducted by Chinese and foreign media reported that the Secretariat’s contacts focused on strengthening ties and exploring joint projects in AI research, education and industry.
WAIC 2026 is part of China’s broader strategy to position itself as a leader in AI governance. By combining a high‑profile conference, a large exhibition and the creation of WAICO, China aims to influence global AI policy, encourage cross‑border collaboration and promote a framework that balances innovation with ethical considerations.
The next steps for WAICO will involve establishing its governing structure, drafting a charter that aligns with the UN Charter, and launching its first joint research and policy initiatives. The conference concluded with a statement that the organisation would begin operations in the coming months and would host its first annual meeting in 2027.
The event marked a significant milestone in international AI cooperation, bringing together leaders from the political, academic and commercial sectors to discuss shared challenges and opportunities. The establishment of WAICO and the commitments announced by China and the SCO signal a move toward more coordinated global governance of artificial intelligence.
WAIC has been held annually in Shanghai since 2018 and is organised by the Chinese central government, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the China Association for Science and Technology and the Shanghai Municipal People’s Government. The 2026 edition marked the first time the conference was coupled with a large technology exhibition, featuring more than 300 product launches and live demonstrations of embodied intelligence.
During the opening ceremony, President Xi Jinping addressed the assembled audience. He outlined China’s people‑centred approach to AI, stressing that the technology should be harnessed for good and progress. Xi called for international cooperation to build a fair and rational governance system. He also announced that China would allocate 5,000 participation quotas for exchange programmes and establish cooperation centres with partners from ASEAN, the Arab League, the African Union, CELAC, BRICS and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) over the next five years.
At the High‑Level Meeting, SCO Deputy Secretary‑General Oleg Kopylov highlighted the organisation’s role in AI collaboration. He referenced the Council of Heads of State’s statement on deepening cooperation, adopted at the SCO Summit in Tianjin in 2025, and noted the SCO’s readiness to unite states, international organisations, science and business to create a secure, fair and inclusive digital future.
On the eve of the conference, representatives of 29 countries signed the Agreement on the Establishment of the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization (WAICO). The signatories included 11 SCO member states—Belarus, Cambodia, Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Myanmar, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan—alongside participants from the African Union, ASEAN, the Arab League, CELAC and BRICS. The agreement states that WAICO will be guided by the UN Charter, will rely on a mechanism of consultations, will pursue common benefit and will adhere to a people‑centred approach.
WAICO’s launch follows a proposal made by Chinese Premier Li Qiang in 2025, who suggested creating an international body to coordinate AI research, policy and industry. The organisation’s headquarters will be in Shanghai, and its founding members have pledged to share best practices, standardise regulatory frameworks and promote responsible AI development.
The conference also served as a platform for the Shanghai Secretariat to engage with high‑ranking representatives from SCO member states and other international organisations. Interviews conducted by Chinese and foreign media reported that the Secretariat’s contacts focused on strengthening ties and exploring joint projects in AI research, education and industry.
WAIC 2026 is part of China’s broader strategy to position itself as a leader in AI governance. By combining a high‑profile conference, a large exhibition and the creation of WAICO, China aims to influence global AI policy, encourage cross‑border collaboration and promote a framework that balances innovation with ethical considerations.
The next steps for WAICO will involve establishing its governing structure, drafting a charter that aligns with the UN Charter, and launching its first joint research and policy initiatives. The conference concluded with a statement that the organisation would begin operations in the coming months and would host its first annual meeting in 2027.
The event marked a significant milestone in international AI cooperation, bringing together leaders from the political, academic and commercial sectors to discuss shared challenges and opportunities. The establishment of WAICO and the commitments announced by China and the SCO signal a move toward more coordinated global governance of artificial intelligence.
