Chinese President Xi Jinping will deliver the keynote speech at the 2026 World Artificial Intelligence Conference in Shanghai, marking his first direct engagement with the country’s premier AI event. This move underscores China’s escalating push to set global AI governance agendas as the US and China intensify rivalry over AI technology development and control.
- Xi Jinping’s first keynote at China’s top AI summit signals high-level prioritization.
- China pushes a global AI governance model contrasting US export controls.
- Shanghai positioned as a global AI governance and innovation center.
What happened
For the first time, Chinese President Xi Jinping will deliver the keynote speech at the World Artificial Intelligence Conference, held from July 17 to 20, 2026, in Shanghai. This high-profile event gathers over 1,400 attendees, including executives, investors, academics, government officials from 12 ministries, and representatives from eight national laboratories, featuring more than 300 product launches. Xi’s presence elevates the event's profile beyond a traditional trade show.
Alongside the conference is a High-Level Meeting on Global AI Governance. China aims to use this platform to advance its international AI governance ambitions, most notably the creation of the World AI Cooperation Organization, a proposed body to be headquartered in Shanghai. The organization is positioned as a diplomatic forum intended to engage international actors with a Chinese-led agenda on AI regulation and collaboration.
Why it matters
Xi’s direct involvement signals China's increasing prioritization of AI at the highest level of government. His keynote will likely define the contours of China’s vision for global AI governance, which starkly contrasts with the US approach that relies heavily on export controls and entity restrictions. China’s proposal focuses on membership and cooperation, pitching benefits like open model weights and affordable AI technology accessibility to countries reluctant to choose sides in the US-China tech rivalry.
Shanghai’s development as China’s AI capital adds strategic weight to this initiative. The city’s decade-long investments in municipal funding, computing infrastructure, and research clusters support the vision of hosting an international AI governance body. This move also serves as a signal to domestic stakeholders that AI development is a top-tier national priority, with Xi’s personal attendance reinforcing the political importance attached to the sector.
What to watch next
Key to observe will be whether Xi formally announces the establishment or operational plans for the World AI Cooperation Organization during his keynote. While the organization has been proposed, it currently exists mostly as an intention without concrete structure or broad membership. International acceptance remains uncertain, especially given the geopolitical tensions surrounding AI technology and governance.
The broader international community’s response to China’s governance agenda will be critical, particularly from countries unwilling to align explicitly with either the US or China. Additionally, the event’s outcomes may provide insights into China’s technological advancements, including efforts to bypass US export controls by developing indigenous AI chips and frontier models. The conference could set the tone for future global AI collaboration and competition dynamics.