Xi Jinping Targets US: "AI Development Should Be a Symphony, Not a Solo by One Country"

Xi Jinping Attends WAIC Opening Ceremony in Shanghai for the First Time

Chinese President Xi Jinping stated on July 17 that no single country should dominate the development of artificial intelligence (AI).

According to AFP, President Xi attended the opening ceremony of the "2026 World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC)" held in Shanghai that morning and said, "The advancement of AI should not be a solo performance by one country, but rather a symphony created through international cooperation." His remarks are interpreted as being directed toward the United States, which competes with China.

He emphasized that the development of AI "must remain human-centered," and added, "We must take the secondary risks that AI may bring extremely seriously." He continued, "We must raise awareness of the risks posed by AI and ensure that AI is safe and controllable."

He went on to say, "We must jointly oppose the excessive expansion of the concept of national security in the field of AI," and called for the swift establishment of a consensus-based global governance system for AI.

Yonhap News Agency

President Xi also expressed his intention to work together with Global South countries in the future development of AI. The term "Global South" generally refers to emerging and developing countries mainly located in the southern hemisphere. He stated, "We must prevent new forms of historical injustice from arising in the AI field," and stressed the importance of helping Global South countries strengthen their AI capabilities.

He further pledged to "develop AI cooperation centers with countries in Latin America, ASEAN, Africa, and BRICS" and announced that "over the next five years, China will provide 5,000 AI-related training opportunities to developing nations."

This was President Xi's first time attending the WAIC opening ceremony, now in its ninth year. On the previous day, representatives from 29 countries signed an agreement in Shanghai to establish the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization (WAICO).

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.