Chinese President Xi Jinping just delivered his first-ever keynote speech at the World Artificial Intelligence Conference in Shanghai, an event that’s been running since 2018. Beijing wants the world to know it’s serious about leading the AI race.
The 2026 WAIC, running from July 17 to 20 under the theme “Intelligent Partners, Co-create the Future,” doubled as a High-Level Meeting on Global AI Governance.
A coalition takes shape
The day before Xi’s keynote, representatives from 29 countries signed a pact to establish a global AI cooperation body.
Beijing announced the conference details through its Ministry of Foreign Affairs on July 13, just four days before the event.
