World AI Cooperation Organization Launched by 29 Nations

Twenty-nine countries signed an agreement on July 16 to establish the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization (WAICO), a new intergovernmental body headquartered in Shanghai that has been hailed as a “milestone” in global AI governance. The signing ceremony, held on the eve of the 2026 World AI Conference, marks a significant step in efforts to create an international framework for AI development and regulation.

A Historic Institutional Step

The agreement establishes WAICO as an independent intergovernmental international organization that upholds the purposes of the UN Charter, adheres to a people-centered approach, and aims to promote international cooperation and global governance on AI, according to Xinhua. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi signed the agreement on behalf of the Chinese government, while UN Secretary-General António Guterres was among representatives from countries and international organizations present at the ceremony.

The 29 founding member states span Asia, Africa, Latin America, and Europe, including Algeria, Belarus, Brazil, Cambodia, China, Cuba, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Malaysia, Pakistan, Russia, Senegal, Serbia, South Africa, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, and Zambia, among others. Notably, 10 of the founding members are from Africa, underscoring the organization’s orientation toward the Global South.

The organization was first proposed by Chinese Premier Li Qiang in July 2025, and Chinese President Xi Jinping reiterated the proposal at the 33rd APEC meeting in October 2025. Its realization in Shanghai less than a year later represents a rapid diplomatic achievement, as Global Times reported.

Xi’s Vision: From Solo Performance to Global Symphony

At the opening ceremony of the 2026 World AI Conference on July 17, Xi Jinping delivered a keynote speech that framed WAICO’s creation in sweeping terms. “A single string cannot make music, a single tree cannot make a forest. AI development should not be a solo performance by one country, but a symphony of global cooperation,” he said, according to the full text of his address.

Xi described WAICO as “a major measure by China to respond to the call of the Global South and unite the international community to actively promote AI development and governance,” calling it “an important milestone in the history of AI development.” He also announced concrete commitments: China will provide 5,000 AI training and seminar opportunities for developing countries over the next five years, establish international AI application cooperation centers for ASEAN, the League of Arab States, the African Union, CELAC, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, and BRICS, and promote the deployment of the “Mazu” AI-based meteorological intelligent warning system in 30 countries.

These commitments reflect a broader strategy of positioning China as a provider of AI public goods, particularly for developing nations that lack the infrastructure and expertise to participate fully in the AI revolution.

A ‘Milestone’ in Global AI Governance

The characterization of WAICO’s formation as a “milestone” has been echoed beyond Chinese officialdom. Vladimir Imamovich Norov, chairman of the Central Asian AI Association and former Secretary-General of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, told People’s Daily that the establishment of WAICO is “a truly historic milestone, marking a decisive shift in the international community from technological competition to constructive institutional development in the field of artificial intelligence.”

“This is not just the birth of another international organization, but the creation of a permanent intergovernmental platform that will fundamentally improve interaction in the global AI field,” Norov said. He emphasized that WAICO’s significance is particularly profound for Central Asian and Global South countries, which “now have genuine pathways to bridge the technology gap” and can “actively participate in the formulation of rules” rather than merely adapt to them.

According to Beijing Review, international media have broadly recognized the organization as a platform that strengthens China’s role in global AI governance while providing developing countries with new avenues for cooperation. The publication noted that WAICO’s establishment comes at a time when the United States is “rapidly withdrawing from global internet and AI rule-making,” according to analysts cited by Al Jazeera.

Three Pillars of Cooperation

Reports indicate WAICO will focus on three main areas of work: AI capacity building cooperation encompassing policy exchange, technical cooperation, and personnel training; a supply-demand platform to promote “AI+” actions and encourage open-source ecosystems; and support for the UN’s role in global AI governance, including implementation of the Global Digital Compact and UN Sustainable Development Goals.

This structure is designed to translate policy declarations into practical cooperation mechanisms. As Norov noted, unlike previous platforms, WAICO has a clear purpose: “to transform policy declarations into practical cooperation mechanisms in the areas of standards, safety, and capacity building.”

Geopolitical Context: Rivaling Western Frameworks

The formation of WAICO comes amid intensifying global competition over AI governance. As Wikipedia documents, the organization is viewed as rivalling the US-led “Pax Silica” initiative, which aims to counter China’s influence in global supply chains for rare-earth elements, semiconductors, and AI. Western-led frameworks such as the EU’s AI Act and G7 processes represent alternative governance models that WAICO is seen as challenging.

Chinese AI models from DeepSeek, Kimi, and Z.ai have gained significant traction among US companies, growing from below 10% of tokens in mid-2025 to around 40% of tokens in mid-2026, according to industry data. This growing influence underscores the stakes in the global AI governance contest.

Analysts have offered nuanced assessments. Arindrajit Basu of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace suggested that China might use WAICO to expand its network of AI cooperation centers or shape AI policy discussions at the United Nations. Meanwhile, Indonesian digital expert Heru Sutadi, quoted in TNW’s coverage, argued that “WAICO must be more than just an international organization discussing AI developments. It must be a platform that champions the interests of the Global South so that it is not left further behind in the artificial intelligence revolution.”

What to Watch For

As WAICO transitions from founding agreement to functioning institution, several questions remain. How will the organization’s governance structure evolve, and which states will take active leadership roles? Will the promised training programs and technology transfers materialize at scale? And can WAICO genuinely bridge the AI divide, or will it create new dependencies for participating nations?

For the Global South, the stakes are clear. As Guangming Daily reported, African observers see WAICO as a vehicle for transforming knowledge into autonomous capability. The organization’s success will ultimately be measured not by its founding documents, but by whether it delivers tangible benefits to the countries that need AI cooperation most.

China’s government has framed the organization as a response to the Global South’s call for more equitable AI governance. The official announcement from the State Council emphasizes that WAICO will ensure AI develops in a beneficial, safe, and fair direction. Whether this vision translates into lasting institutional impact will be one of the most significant questions in global AI governance over the coming years.