World AI Conference Opens in Shanghai as China-EU Cooperation Talks Intensify
The 2026 World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) and High-Level Meeting on Global AI Governance opens in Shanghai on July 17, with President Xi Jinping set to deliver a keynote address in a historic first for the event. Running through July 20 under the theme “Intelligent Partners, Co-creating the Future,” the conference marks a significant escalation in China’s AI ambitions on the global stage.
A Historic Moment for WAIC
President Xi’s personal attendance and keynote speech — announced on July 13 by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs — is the first time a Chinese head of state has addressed WAIC since its launch in 2018, signaling that AI has been elevated to the highest level of China’s national strategic agenda. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Xi will “systematically elaborate on China’s policies, position, visions and propositions on AI development and governance.”
Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lin Jian noted at a regular press briefing that China has invited government officials, industry leaders, academics, and heads of international organizations from around the world to participate. The conference, he said, aims to “build a platform for various parties to enhance mutual trust, pool consensus, and deepen cooperation” in AI development.
Record-Breaking Scale
This year’s WAIC has expanded dramatically, reflecting China’s rapid AI sector growth. As reported by CCTV News, the conference features:
- 140+ forums covering world models, intelligent agents, AI governance, and embodied intelligence
- 1,400+ Chinese and international guests
- An exhibition area exceeding 100,000 square meters for the first time
- 1,100+ enterprises showcasing 3,000+ exhibits, with over 300 products making global debuts
- 108 chips and 261 large language models on display
- 300+ humanoid robots showcased
- 162 billion yuan in intended cooperation already achieved
China’s AI core industry exceeded 1.2 trillion yuan in 2025, with over 6,200 AI enterprises and more than 600 million generative AI users. The country is the world’s largest AI patent holder, accounting for 60 percent of global AI patents.
China-EU Co-opetition in Focus
Concurrently with WAIC, the China Europe International Business School (CEIBS) held its 12th Europe Forum in Brussels, bringing together Chinese and European experts to discuss AI cooperation under the theme “Co-opetition: China-EU AI Development Cooperation Opportunities.”
According to People’s Daily, Andrea Renda, Research Director at the Centre for European Policy Studies, observed that “current global AI competition is moving beyond large language models toward industrial applications, embodied intelligence, infrastructure, and energy efficiency.” He noted that China excels in large-scale application, engineering, and cost control, while Europe has strong foundations in scientific research, professional talent, and regulatory governance — creating “broad space for cooperation.”
Song Haitao, President of the Shanghai AI Research Institute, emphasized that China has accumulated practical experience in trustworthy, safe, and cost-controllable large-scale AI applications, while Europe holds advantages in rules, standards, testing, and risk assessment. He called for industry-university-research cooperation to promote technical standards alignment and mutual recognition of testing systems.
Calls for Responsible Cooperation
Charles Michel, former President of the European Council and former Prime Minister of Belgium, framed AI as a matter of “economic competition, national security, sovereignty, and global governance.” He urged all parties to engage in “responsible cooperation” through dialogue and multilateral mechanisms, ensuring that AI “serves economic and social development rather than exacerbating division and inequality.”
Cai Run, Head of China’s Mission to the EU, underscored the broader relationship, stating that “cooperation far outweighs competition and consensus far outweighs differences — the two sides are partners, not rivals.” He noted that 2026 marks the first year of the second 50 years of China-EU diplomatic relations.
Global Governance and the Global South
China is expected to release two key documents during WAIC: the “China Wisdom, Benefiting the World” case collection and the “AI Cooperation Development Action Plan.” These initiatives emphasize helping developing countries with digital transformation, positioning China as a champion of equitable AI development.
Cui Xiangui, Head of China Bureau for South Korea’s NewsPim, noted that “China is committed to bridging the intelligence divide and promoting the establishment of a safe and reliable AI standards system, becoming an important leader in global AI governance.”
What to Watch For
President Xi’s keynote on July 17 will be closely watched for specific policy announcements and new global governance proposals. The unprecedented scale of WAIC 2026, combined with the parallel China-EU dialogue in Brussels, suggests that AI has become a central arena for both technological competition and diplomatic engagement between major powers. The conference is expected to produce concrete cooperation frameworks and set the tone for global AI governance discussions for the year ahead.
Reporting based on sources from CCTV News, People’s Daily, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the PRC, and Global Times.