China says the 2026 World AI Conference (WAIC) and High-Level Meeting on Global AI Governance will promote the safe, orderly and responsible development of artificial intelligence for global development and human well-being.
Chinese President Xi Jinping will attend the opening ceremony in Shanghai from July 17 to 20, where he is expected to deliver a keynote speech outlining China’s policies, vision and proposals on AI development and governance.
The article describes AI as a key driver of technological and industrial transformation, noting that while rapid advances present significant opportunities, they also create governance challenges that require international cooperation.
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It says China has adopted a people-centred approach to AI, combining its vast data resources, industrial base and market to accelerate innovation. According to the article, China’s AI sector now includes more than 6,200 companies, with the industry’s value exceeding 1.2 trillion yuan (about $176.7 billion) in 2025. It also says the country’s annual production of humanoid robots is expected to surpass 100,000 units this year.
The article highlights China’s international AI cooperation through its Global AI Governance Initiative and AI Capacity-Building Action Plan for Good and for All, citing the AI-powered MAZU early warning system, which is reportedly being used in more than 40 countries to improve responses to extreme weather.
It argues that AI should remain a global public good rather than “a game dictated by a few wealthy countries or a tool for maintaining technological hegemony”, adding that “Attempts to obstruct other countries’ AI development through exclusive blocs or supply chain disruptions will only harm this burgeoning sector and should be opposed.”
The article concludes that “it is imperative to uphold the people-centred, AI-for-good principle, balance development with security, and practise multilateralism” while noting that this year’s WAIC, themed “AI Partnership for a Brighter Future”, aims to advance more open, fair and effective global AI governance.
Xinhua
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