/PRNewswire/ -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday conducted multiple top-level discussions on the margins of the 2026 World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) and High-Level Meeting on Global AI Governance in Shanghai. He met successively with Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet, and UN Secretary-General António Guterres. The active diplomatic schedule turned the WAIC from a leading showcase of AI technologies and industry advances into a dynamic platform for leader diplomacy and global governance coordination.

Analysts noted that holding intensive leader diplomatic events in Shanghai, a key center of reform, opening-up and technological innovation, holds deep significance. In addition, Friday's high-level meetings reflect the fresh model of technology creating the stage while diplomacy leads the way. This approach not only strengthens China's bilateral ties with ASEAN members but also supports progress on inclusive global AI governance centered on the UN framework.

Strategic direction

Based on separate official releases from Xinhua, during meetings with the prime ministers of Thailand and Cambodia, President Xi highlighted the enduring friendship China maintains with both countries. He urged China and Thailand, as well as China and Cambodia, to work together to advance their respective communities with a shared future.

Furthermore, the Chinese leader emphasized the importance of expanding practical cooperation with Thailand and Cambodia in both traditional and new fields, and collaborating with each nation to jointly address cross-border crimes such as online gambling and telecom fraud, according to Xinhua.

He stressed the need to manage border frictions between Thailand and Cambodia properly and encouraged the two sides to settle disputes through dialogue and consultation, with China prepared to continue playing a constructive role, per Xinhua.

During their separate meetings with the Chinese leader, the prime ministers of Thailand and Cambodia both signaled readiness to deepen multi-field cooperation with China and praised China's constructive efforts to support peaceful resolution of the Thailand-Cambodia border issues.

Xu Liping, Director of the Center for Southeast Asian Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times that leader diplomacy has set the basic direction for advancing China's relations with both Cambodia and Thailand.

WAIC demonstrates the fresh model of technology building the platform while diplomacy leads, said Xu. In addition, AI cooperation is expected to serve as an important entry point to further strengthen and enrich China's ties with Thailand and Cambodia in the future.

Moreover, addressing the sensitive Thailand-Cambodia border dispute in the relatively relaxed setting of a tech summit allows all parties to handle differences in a rational and practical way, reflecting Eastern wisdom and an Asian method for resolving issues, said Xu.

The year 2026 marks the fifth anniversary of the China-ASEAN comprehensive strategic partnership, with the new Plan of Action on the China-ASEAN Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (2026-2030) officially launched. It also begins implementation of China's 15th Five-Year Plan.

This critical moment provides an ideal opportunity to align China's development plans closely with the national strategies of Global South countries and ASEAN members, said Xu. Thailand and Cambodia's readiness to increase cooperation with China reflects the desire of most ASEAN members to benefit from China's development gains and achieve win-win results and shared prosperity in the region.

Strong backing for UN

In his meeting with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Friday, Xi reaffirmed China's strong support for the UN.

Noting that this year marks the 55th anniversary of the restoration of the lawful seat of the People's Republic of China at the UN, the Chinese leader said China has since worked to build world peace, contribute to global development, defend international order, and firmly back the UN, Xinhua reported.

Xi added that he proposed the vision of building a community with a shared future for humanity and the four global initiatives with one key goal in mind - to uphold the status and authority of the UN.

Currently, the international landscape shows more pronounced changes and turbulence, making it even more essential to practice true multilateralism and strengthen the status and role of the UN, he said.

Guterres praised China for its consistent support for multilateralism, the UN cause, and international cooperation, noting that China has set an example for the world.

Guterres said the UN will continue to enhance cooperation with China, oppose unilateralism, protectionism, and hegemonic bullying, safeguard the UN Charter and international law, and advance progress toward a multipolar world.

At this key moment where discussions on AI development and UN multilateral governance meet, China, using leader diplomacy as a top platform, has systematically outlined its vision for global governance in the AI era, Wang Yiwei, a professor at the School of International Studies, Renmin University of China, told the Global Times.

He added that China's focus on the UN-centered global governance structure will further bolster the UN's authority and operational capacity.

Before the official opening of the WAIC, on Thursday, representatives from 29 countries, including Kazakhstan, Laos, Pakistan, Russia and Indonesia, signed an agreement on establishing the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization (WAICO) in Shanghai. UN chief Guterres was among representatives from countries and international organizations present at the signing ceremony.

According to the agreement, WAICO will be an independent intergovernmental international organization aimed at promoting international cooperation and global governance on AI, ensuring that AI is beneficial, safe and fair, thereby advancing its healthy and orderly development to benefit all humanity.

President Xi on Friday also announced that in the next five years, China will provide developing countries with 5,000 opportunities in AI training and seminar programs. China will also develop international AI application cooperation centers with the ASEAN, the League of Arab States, the African Union, the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, and BRICS.

However, some international media, including Reuters and Nikkei, used the term AI diplomacy to describe the major gathering in Shanghai, claiming that Beijing seeks a new global AI order, challenging US dominance.

In response, Wang pointed out that China advocates open, inclusive technology that allows AI to benefit all humanity under the vision of AI for All. In contrast, the US follows a mindset of All for AI, weaponizing AI for geopolitical rivalry and aiming to outpace China in technological competition. Driven by the America First doctrine and capital-centric priorities, Washington's approach forms a sharp contrast with China's.

Meanwhile, China's firm commitment to upholding the UN system underscores that for China and many Global South countries, the sensible path lies in reforming and improving the existing global governance architecture rather than discarding it to build parallel institutions from scratch, the expert added.

This article first appeared on Global Times

SOURCE Global Times