Xi Jinping Calls for Global AI Cooperation at Shanghai Conference Amid US-China Tech Tensions
July 17, 2026
Chinese President Xi Jinping urged international collaboration on AI development and governance at the World Artificial Intelligence Conference in Shanghai, warning against single-country dominance and emphasizing equitable access for developing nations.
Across the spectrum
Al Jazeera frames China's advancements as a direct counterbalance to US technological hegemony, emphasizing geopolitical implications and energy advantages. Unlike other outlets, it positions the narrative around challenging US dominance rather than just market competition.
The center group focuses on balanced economic, diplomatic, and technological analyses without strong ideological framing. Sources like DW, NPR, France 24, and CNBC emphasize facts such as market share shifts, chip supply chains, and diplomatic cooperation, treating the AI race as a competitive but complex global dynamic.
Full synthesis
Chinese President Xi Jinping delivered a keynote address at the World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) in Shanghai, calling for international cooperation in AI development and governance. He argued that AI should not be dominated by any single nation, describing it instead as a "symphony of global cooperation." Xi emphasized a "people-centred" approach, urging the establishment of regulations to ensure AI remains under human control and warning against the "overstretching" of national security concepts. He announced plans to provide 5,000 AI training opportunities for developing countries and expand cooperation with regional blocs including BRICS, ASEAN, and the African Union.
The conference follows the establishment of the World AI Cooperation Organization (WAICO), an intergovernmental body headquartered in Shanghai, signed by 29 nations including Russia, Brazil, and several African and Asian states. The event highlights the intensifying US-China tech rivalry, with China positioning itself as a leader in open-source AI and affordable technology for the Global South, contrasting with US and EU restrictions on Chinese tech imports. Major Chinese tech firms like Huawei showcased advanced computing systems, while industry analysts note China’s growing competitiveness in AI models despite US export controls on semiconductors.
Xi Jinping Calls for Global AI Cooperation at Shanghai Conference Amid US-China Tech Tensions