Chinese President Xi Jinping will attend the opening ceremony of the 2026 World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) in Shanghai, delivering a keynote address for the first time since the event’s 2018 inception. This move underscores Beijing’s elevated prioritization of AI as a cornerstone of economic growth and global technological leadership.
- Xi Jinping to keynote WAIC opening in Shanghai, marking first attendance
- China accelerates AI commercialization and governance efforts
- Chinese AI models close performance gap with US competitors
What happened
President Xi Jinping will personally attend the opening ceremony of the 2026 World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) in Shanghai and deliver a keynote address. His participation marks the first time he has appeared in person since the event began in 2018. Previously, Xi had only sent congratulatory messages, while Premier Li Qiang attended earlier editions.
The conference will run for four days, featuring over 140 forums, 1,400 guests, and 1,100 exhibitors, with more than 300 new AI products making their global debut. This event coincides with a high-level meeting on global AI governance, emphasizing China’s intent to play a leading role in shaping international AI standards.
Why it matters
Xi’s direct involvement signals a significant elevation in China’s commitment to advancing AI as a key driver of national economic growth and technology competitiveness. The country’s 2026 government work report highlights the expansion of an “AI+” strategy and accelerating AI’s commercial adoption, paired with strengthening governance frameworks.
China is also asserting itself on the global AI governance stage. Xi proposed the Global AI Governance Initiative in 2023, and in 2025, China laid out plans for a World AI Cooperation Organisation. These moves aim to influence international AI regulatory norms as domestic AI models increasingly close the gap with US technology leaders.
What to watch next
The impact of Xi’s keynote on China’s AI strategic direction and international collaborations will be closely monitored. Observers will watch how Chinese policymakers integrate governance proposals with innovation policies, promoting a robust AI ecosystem while aiming for global rule-setting influence.
Meanwhile, the performance and adoption of Chinese AI models remain pivotal. Recent data shows Chinese-developed AI overtaking US models in token processing on at least one platform, and Stanford’s AI Index reports a narrowing performance gap between US and Chinese AI systems. The advancement trajectory in this sector will be critical for future geopolitical and market dynamics.