Xi Jinping to Address World AI Conference in Shanghai

Chinese President Xi Jinping will deliver a keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the 2026 World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) and the High-Level Meeting on AI Global Governance, scheduled for July 17–20 in Shanghai, according to Xinhua News Agency. The announcement marks the highest level of political endorsement for China’s ambitions to shape the future of AI development and governance worldwide.

A Presidential Endorsement for AI Leadership

President Xi’s personal attendance at WAIC is highly significant — he rarely appears at industry conferences, making his participation a clear signal that AI governance is a top national priority. Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lin Jian confirmed at a regular press conference on July 13 that Xi will “comprehensively and systematically elaborate China’s policy positions and conceptual propositions regarding AI development and governance.”

The conference, co-hosted by 10 national-level organizations including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the National Development and Reform Commission, and the Shanghai Municipal Government, is expected to be the largest in the event’s history. Over 140 forums, more than 1,100 exhibitors, and over 300 global product debuts are planned across three major venues in Shanghai: the Expo, Zhangjiang, and West Bund areas.

Record-Breaking Scale and Global Participation

This year’s WAIC will feature a total exhibition area exceeding 100,000 square meters for the first time, according to the Shanghai Municipal Government. Nine Turing Award and Nobel Prize laureates have confirmed their participation, including Richard Sutton, often called the “father of reinforcement learning,” who will deliver a keynote speech, and Yoshua Bengio, a deep learning pioneer who will outline the United Nations’ work on AI governance.

The conference will also debut the first-ever “WAIC Academic” high-level international academic conference, chaired by Turing Award winner Andrew Yao. With 284 papers submitted from multiple countries, the initiative aims to build a top-tier academic exchange platform for AI research.

Cutting-Edge Technology on Display

Key product debuts will include the Huawei Atlas 950 supernode system — the industry’s largest super-node — the MiniMax M3 multimodal large model, StepFun’s Agent operating system, a near-memory computing 3D chip, and what is being described as the world’s first AI agent smartphone. The exhibition will also feature humanoid robots and AI-powered dexterous hands, with two major tracks — intelligent computing and embodied intelligence — each gathering over 200 enterprises.

China’s Vision for Global AI Governance

President Xi’s address comes amid a sustained push by China to position itself as a leader in international AI governance. In October 2023, Xi proposed the Global AI Governance Initiative, emphasizing a people-centered approach and the need for international cooperation on AI safety and ethics. At the 2025 WAIC, China published a 13-point Global AI Governance Action Plan, calling for the UN to serve as the main channel for AI governance while promoting open-source ecosystems and support for developing countries.

Foreign Minister Wang Yi announced in June that China is accelerating preparations for the establishment of the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization, as reported by China Daily. Zhou Haibing, Deputy Head of the National Development and Reform Commission, stated that China has actively promoted global AI governance and international cooperation while upholding multilateralism, openness, and inclusiveness.

Shanghai’s AI Industry Boom

The conference takes place against the backdrop of explosive growth in Shanghai’s AI sector. In 2025, AI industry revenue among 394 above-scale enterprises in the city exceeded 637 billion yuan (approximately $88 billion), a year-on-year increase of 39.5%, according to Vice Mayor Chen Jie. Shanghai has emerged as China’s premier AI hub, hosting major innovation centers including the SMC Shanghai Foundation Model Innovation Center and Model Power Community.

Public Engagement and AI Experiences

WAIC 2026 is designed to bring AI beyond the conference halls. A “WAIC City Walk” will connect 24 urban landmarks across six districts of Shanghai, offering the public hands-on experiences with AI technology. Visitors can participate in robot combat matches, robot dog racing, AI-powered tennis and table tennis, and even brain-computer interface claw machines. Night programs will include youth AI music shows and cross-cultural talks.

For startups and developers, the conference features the new OPC Independent Pioneer Challenge, which received 711 submissions, with 22 projects selected for the venture ecosystem exhibition area. The WAIC Future Tech venture ecosystem will gather more than 80 investment institutions and nearly 180 selected projects from over 1,200 submissions worldwide.

Geopolitical Context and Forward Look

The conference unfolds amid intensifying US-China technology competition, particularly in AI and semiconductors, and ongoing US export controls on advanced AI chips to China. China is positioning itself as a champion for developing countries’ AI capacity building, offering an alternative to Western-led governance models. Thailand’s Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul will make an official visit to China overlapping with WAIC, highlighting AI cooperation as a growing diplomatic priority.

President Xi’s keynote speech is expected to outline China’s vision for global AI governance, potentially announcing new initiatives or institutional frameworks. As Lin Jian stated, China hopes the conference will serve as “a milestone in the history of AI development,” providing a platform for各方 to enhance mutual trust, build consensus, and deepen cooperation on the healthy, safe, and orderly development of AI worldwide.

This article was compiled from official Chinese government sources, state media reports, and international coverage.