China used a major artificial intelligence conference in Shanghai to push a global vision that mixes soft power, state control, and open cooperation.
Quick Take
- Xi Jinping gave his first keynote address at the World Artificial Intelligence Conference in Shanghai.
- He promised 5,000 artificial intelligence training spots for developing countries over five years.
- He called for four rules on artificial intelligence: openness, risk awareness, inclusion, and multilateral solidarity.
- He also proposed a World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization in Shanghai.
Xi Uses Shanghai Stage to Pitch a Global Artificial Intelligence Order
Chinese President Xi Jinping used the World Artificial Intelligence Conference in Shanghai to present himself as a champion of broad access and shared rules for artificial intelligence. He said no single country should dominate the field and described development as a “symphony of international cooperation.” The message was aimed at a global audience, but it also carried a clear political edge. Xi tied technology leadership to China’s wider bid to shape the rules.
Xi’s speech laid out four points that centered on openness, safety, inclusion, and global coordination. He urged open-source cooperation, stronger risk controls, and respect for different cultures. He also warned against overstretching the national security concept in artificial intelligence, a line that will sound familiar to readers who worry about government overreach and export controls. In plain terms, Xi said the technology should be managed through rules, not left to chaos or one-country control.
Training, Aid, and a New Cooperation Body
Xi paired the broad message with specific promises for developing countries. He said China will provide 5,000 artificial intelligence training opportunities over the next five years. He also said China will help 30 countries use its artificial intelligence-powered meteorological warning system. Reuters reported that Xi framed this effort as support for developing nations in Africa, Latin America, Asia, and the BRICS bloc, not just China’s close partners.
He also proposed a new World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization in Shanghai. That idea fits Beijing’s long-running pattern of building parallel global structures where China can set the tone. For conservatives, the obvious question is whether this is real cooperation or another attempt to expand Chinese influence while wrapping it in friendly language. The speech did not answer that question. It did show that Beijing wants to be seen as a rule-maker, not just a rule-taker.
Why the Speech Matters Beyond the Conference Hall
The speech also reflected China’s effort to link artificial intelligence to economic growth and national strategy. State media said Xi connected the technology to innovation, industrial upgrading, and future industries, while framing it as a tool for shared prosperity. South China Morning Post reported that he cited China’s smart economy as already worth at least 1 trillion yuan. That is a reminder that Beijing sees artificial intelligence as both an economic engine and a geopolitical weapon.
Chinese President Xi Jinping announced on Friday the establishment of the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization, stressing the need for international cooperation to address challenges arising from the rapid advancement of AI technologies.
Speaking at the opening… pic.twitter.com/5zLQsnWdGT— Qatar Tribune (@Qatar_Tribune) July 17, 2026
Western coverage mostly treated the event as part of the China-United States tech race, not as a neutral policy meeting. That framing matters because it shapes how readers judge China’s promises before the details are even tested. Xi’s speech contained practical-sounding ideas, but the record in the search results does not show a legal charter for the proposed cooperation organization or a full public transcript that can be independently checked line by line. The promises are real. The proof of execution is still thin.
Sources:
youtube.com, english.www.gov.cn, digichina.stanford.edu
