At the launch of the 2026 World AI Conference and High-Level Meeting on Global AI Governance, President Xi Jinping stressed that progress in artificial intelligence must involve collective international effort instead of isolated national actions. China stands prepared to demonstrate greater openness, pursue concrete initiatives, and adopt forward-looking strategies, he noted.

The president expressed readiness to partner with various stakeholders in capturing AI opportunities and addressing associated challenges to build a promising future for people everywhere.

These comments drew favorable reactions from companies and specialists at home and abroad. Observers praised recent Chinese technological advances and highlighted how the nation's focus on openness and partnership can ensure AI advantages reach all of humanity, while its governance approaches offer practical help to others facing shared AI-related issues.

Openness and win-win cooperation

Xi outlined four key points regarding AI advancement and oversight. He advocated sticking to openness and mutual benefit to drive innovation-led growth, urging greater support for open-source efforts, transparency, joint work, and resource sharing to speed up AI breakthroughs, industry expansion, and real-world uses.

The leader also stressed heightened attention to risks to keep AI safe and manageable. He insisted that AI remain firmly under human direction and urged rejection of any misuse of national security arguments in this domain or attempts to prioritize one nation's safety above others.

Third, he promoted inclusivity and cross-civilization exchanges. Fourth, he backed unity to strengthen worldwide governance, noting the central place of the United Nations and calling for better coordination on AI strategies, oversight norms, and technical benchmarks.

Extensive global teamwork is essential, he said, along with support for capacity building in Global South nations to close AI and digital gaps, advance sustainable growth, and avoid fresh injustices in the AI era.

Over the coming five years, China will offer developing nations 5,000 slots in AI training and discussion programs. It will also set up international AI application hubs with ASEAN, the Arab League, the African Union, the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, and BRICS. In addition, China will equip 30 countries with the MAZU AI-powered weather alert system to protect communities globally.

Song Yang, a professor at Renmin University of China, told the Global Times that these statements reflect China's dedication to global AI governance and innovation via openness and shared gains, creating fresh chances for countries, especially developing ones, to access AI benefits and pursue common prosperity.

Luigi Gambardella, president of ChinaEU, noted on the sidelines that China is conveying a vital message: AI should connect nations rather than create new divides. No single country can handle AI development and governance alone, he added, and China's openness can help distribute AI benefits widely while avoiding splits in technologies, standards, and markets.

Xu Li, chairman and CEO of SenseTime, said Xi's emphasis on openness, mutual benefit, and solidarity, plus the practical steps announced, have inspired him and reinforced his belief in inclusive AI growth through collaboration. SenseTime plans to share proven technologies, products, and training know-how with more regions to extend the reach of Chinese innovation across industries, he stated.

China's active support for stronger global AI governance cooperation, multilateralism, and a worldwide framework has resonated with many Global South nations. On Thursday, 29 countries signed an accord in Shanghai to create the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization, an independent intergovernmental body based in Shanghai that follows UN Charter principles, promotes broad consultation and shared contributions, and places people at the center, according to Xinhua.

Global spotlight on WAIC

Since starting in 2018, WAIC has held eight successful editions and now serves as a key showcase for advanced AI technologies from China and beyond while fostering international openness and teamwork. Under the theme AI Partnership for a Brighter Future, this year's exhibition spans over 100,000 square meters, draws more than 1,100 firms, features over 3,000 products and technologies, and includes more than 300 global firsts.

Highlights include Huawei's Atlas 950 AI computing super node, MiniMax M3 multimodal model, the first agentic AI phone, plus various humanoid robots and dexterous AI hands.

A German BMW representative attending WAIC for the first time praised the humanoid robotics on display, noting technologies never seen before. The company uses Chinese large language models such as Qwen and DeepSeek, whose frequent updates and cost efficiency impressed the representative.

Despite some Western media criticism of China's AI progress and partnerships, Song countered that China's approach remains centered on people and beneficial uses, yielding practical, adaptable experiences. At the ceremony, the China Meteorological Administration introduced the MAZU-FengYun Satellite AI Box, advancing last year's MAZU initiative from shared products to AI-enabled forecasting.

You Yang of the Shanghai Meteorological Bureau reported that over the past year more than 40 countries have accessed MAZU tools via cloud platforms, with tailored versions deployed in Nigeria, Djibouti, Pakistan, and elsewhere, earning strong user approval.

Song added that China is sharing low-cost, replicable AI pathways from base models to sector applications, lowering entry barriers for less developed nations while helping bridge technology, talent, and governance shortfalls.

A March Hugging Face report showed China overtaking the US in monthly and total AI model downloads, claiming 41 percent of downloads in the past year. Zeng Yi, a UN AI advisory member, highlighted China's three institutional strengths: nationwide resource coordination balancing development and security, a people-first focus ensuring broad benefits, and a collaborative governance model linking multiple stakeholders to align rules with technology, offering valuable lessons globally.

SOURCE Global Times