Xi Jinping attended the opening ceremony of the 2026 World Artificial Intelligence Conference and the High-Level Meeting on Global Governance of Artificial Intelligence, delivering a keynote speech

Source: Xinhua News Agency

On the morning of July 17, President Xi Jinping attended the opening ceremony of the 2026 World Artificial Intelligence Conference and the High-Level Meeting on Global Governance of Artificial Intelligence in Shanghai and delivered a keynote speech.

By the Huangpu River, new tides are rising. Guests gathered in the World Reception Hall.

Xi Jinping took a group photo with heads of state, government leaders, heads of international organizations, and heads of delegations from various countries attending the meeting.

Amid warm applause, Xi Jinping delivered a keynote speech titled "Working Together to Build a Fair and Reasonable Global Governance System for Artificial Intelligence."

Xi Jinping pointed out that currently, the world is undergoing a century of changes at an accelerated pace, with a new round of technological revolution and industrial transformation breaking through rapidly. Global innovation in artificial intelligence technology has entered an unprecedented active period, which contains huge opportunities but also faces governance challenges. Humanity must confront the question of the times: When machines begin to think, how should humans coexist with them? When algorithms participate in decision-making, how can safety be ensured? When technology challenges ethics, how can governance keep up? As the gap continues to widen, how can inclusiveness be achieved? The Chinese side believes that countries should adhere to a people-centered, upward and benevolent philosophy, allowing artificial intelligence to become an important driving force for promoting common prosperity and maintaining common security, and work together to build a fair and reasonable global governance system for artificial intelligence.

In this regard, Xi Jinping proposed four points:

First, adhere to openness and win-win cooperation to drive innovative development. Seize the rare historical opportunity, encourage open-source and cooperative sharing, comprehensively promote technological innovation in artificial intelligence, industrial development, and application scenarios, and collaboratively advance the transformation and upgrading of traditional industries, the cultivation and growth of emerging industries, and the forward-looking layout of future industries, allowing artificial intelligence to empower various sectors.

Second, strengthen risk awareness to ensure safety and controllability. Attach great importance to various endogenous and derivative risks caused by artificial intelligence, promote the establishment of legal regulations, technical monitoring, risk warning, and emergency response systems, build a solid safety bottom line, prevent abuse and malicious use, and ensure that artificial intelligence is always under human control. Jointly oppose the practice of generalizing national security concepts in the field of artificial intelligence and prioritizing one's own security over that of other countries.

Third, encourage inclusiveness and mutual learning among civilizations. Shape the values of artificial intelligence with the common values of humanity, make good use of artificial intelligence technology to enhance understanding and tolerance among different civilizations, promote exchanges and mutual learning among different civilizations, and carefully cultivate a garden of civilizations where each beauty is appreciated and shared.

Fourth, advocate for solidarity and improve global governance. Practice true multilateralism, effectively play the important role of the United Nations, strengthen the coordination of artificial intelligence development strategies, governance rules, and technical standards, and form a globally recognized governance framework as soon as possible, allowing this cutting-edge technology to better benefit human society. Help countries in the Global South strengthen capacity building, bridge the digital divide, promote sustainable development, and avoid creating new historical injustices in the field of artificial intelligence.

Xi Jinping emphasized that this year marks the beginning of China's "14th Five-Year Plan." The "14th Five-Year Plan" outlines a blueprint for China's economic and social development over the next five years and provides a list of opportunities for the international community. In recent years, China has adhered to the combination of an effective market and a proactive government, strengthened technological innovation in artificial intelligence, actively promoted the "Artificial Intelligence +" initiative, and cultivated a healthy ecosystem of mutual prosperity among various entities. The core industry of the intelligent economy has exceeded one trillion yuan, and "Made in China" has become another bright business card of Chinese-style modernization. At the same time, China insists on balancing development and security, continuously improving relevant laws and regulations, policies and systems, application norms, and ethical guidelines to ensure that artificial intelligence is safe, reliable, and controllable. As a responsible major country, China is committed to being a provider of international public goods in the field of artificial intelligence, continuously contributing Chinese solutions.

Xi Jinping pointed out that, with the joint efforts of all parties, the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization was born in Shanghai. This is a significant initiative by the Chinese side to respond to the voices of the Global South and unite the international community to actively promote the development and governance of artificial intelligence, which will become an important milestone in the history of artificial intelligence development. To further support global artificial intelligence development and promote global capacity building in artificial intelligence, in the next five years, China will provide 5,000 training slots for specialized artificial intelligence workshops for developing countries; establish international artificial intelligence application cooperation centers for ASEAN, the Arab League, the African Union, the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, and BRICS countries; and promote the implementation of the meteorological intelligent early warning program "Mazu" in 30 countries. China is willing to adopt a more open posture, more pragmatic actions, and a longer-term perspective to work with all parties to seize and respond to the opportunities and challenges of artificial intelligence development, and jointly create a better future for human society.

Kazakhstan's President Tokayev, Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Manet, Thailand's Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-o-cha, and UN Secretary-General Guterres delivered speeches. They warmly congratulated the signing ceremony of the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization agreement held in Shanghai, highly praised China's important contributions to promoting global governance of artificial intelligence, and actively responded to the initiatives and measures proposed by President Xi Jinping. All parties expressed that artificial intelligence is expected to become the greatest development opportunity for humanity, but it also harbors risks. China's advocacy for benevolent, inclusive, and safe artificial intelligence, along with its active assistance to developing countries in strengthening relevant capacity building and promoting international cooperation in artificial intelligence, demonstrates the responsibility of a major country. Artificial intelligence technology should be shared and governed by all countries, ensuring that it benefits all nations fairly, serves the sustainable development of all humanity, and bridges the global digital divide and the development gap between the North and South. The opportunities and challenges brought by artificial intelligence transcend national borders and require cooperation among all parties to grasp and respond to them. It is hoped and believed that the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization will play an important role in this regard, jointly creating a safe, prosperous, and inclusive future where no country is left behind through open, inclusive, and mutually beneficial cooperation.

The conference issued the "Chairman's Statement of the 2026 World Artificial Intelligence Conference and the High-Level Meeting on Global Governance of Artificial Intelligence."

On the evening of July 16, Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan held a welcome banquet for international dignitaries attending the conference in the World Reception Hall.

Cai Qi, Ding Xuexiang, Wang Yi, and others attended the above activities.

Chen Jining hosted the opening ceremony.