By H. E. Wang Di, Chinese Ambassador to Canada

The 2026 World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC 2026) and the High-Level Meeting on Global AI Governance were successfully held in Shanghai, China recently. The conference brought together official representatives from more than 100 countries and international organizations, along with leaders from industries, academia, and research institutions, to discuss how to ensure that artificial intelligence is developed for the common good and benefits everyone, with a series of important outcomes achieved. During the conference, more than 150 thematic forums were held, along with dozens of bilateral and multilateral exchange sessions and business matchmaking events involving Chinese and international participants. More than 1,100 exhibitors from China and abroad showcased over 3,000 cutting-edge exhibits. The conference has become an important global platform for AI innovation exchange, regulation dialogue, and industrial cooperation in artificial intelligence.

Chinese President Xi Jinping attended the opening ceremony of WAIC 2026 and delivered a keynote speech titled “Joining Hands to Build a Just and Equitable System for Global AI Governance”. As President Xi noted, today, major changes unseen in a century are accelerating across the world. The new round of technological revolution and industrial transformation is advancing at a faster pace, and the world has entered an unprecedented period of active innovation of AI technologies. All these carry within them great opportunities as well as challenges to governance. In China’s view, all countries should take a people-centered approach and develop AI for the positive and for good. It is vital to ensure that AI is an important driver for shared prosperity and common security. The world needs to join hands to build a just and equitable system for global AI governance. President Xi shared four observations to this end, stressing the need: adhere to the principle of openness and win-win and boost innovation-driven development; strengthen risk-awareness and ensure that AI is secure and controllable; encourage inclusiveness and promote mutual learning between civilizations; and advocate solidarity and improve global governance. 

China is not only an active advocate of international cooperation on AI governance, but also a committed provider of international public goods. At WAIC 2026, China announced several major global public goods initiatives to support global AI development for good and for all, including providing developing countries with 5,000 opportunities in AI training and seminar programs over the next five years, establishing international AI application cooperation centers, and enabling more countries to benefit from the AI-powered meteorological warning system, MAZU. During the conference, under China’s initiative, 29 founding member states from Asia, Africa, Latin America, and Europe signed the Agreement on the Establishment of the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization (WAICO), significantly enhancing the representation and voice of the Global South in global AI governance. The conference also released the Chair’s Statement of the 2026 World Artificial Intelligence Conference and High-Level Meeting on Global AI Governance, reflecting broad international consensus on advancing the global AI governance.

In recent years, China has embraced AI with open arms. China has strengthened AI innovation, actively advanced the AI Plus Initiative, and built a healthy ecosystem for all entities to thrive in together. The value of core smart economy industries has reached at least 1 trillion RMB (about 210 billion CAD). Smart devices in countless homes truly improve people’s life. Intelligent Manufacturing in China has become another shining hallmark of Chinese modernization. WAIC 2026 showcased China’s latest achievements in large language models, intelligent robotics, autonomous driving technologies, and other frontier AI applications. Supported by both technological innovation and extensive real-world deployment, China has become an important global hub for AI innovation and application.

Canada has long been recognized as a global pioneer in AI research and innovation. China and Canada share a commitment to promoting inclusive and universally beneficial AI to empower industries and improve people’s well-being. Both countries support AI development guided by the principles of openness, inclusiveness, shared benefits, safety and security, and practical outcomes. These principles are fully consistent with the vision of global AI governance advocated at WAIC 2026 and provide a solid foundation for China and Canada expanding bilateral cooperation in this important field.

Artificial intelligence should serve humanity, and cooperation is key to realizing its full potential. China and Canada can strengthen dialogue and deepen cooperation on strengthening AI safety and security, promoting inclusive AI development, and jointly advancing a global AI governance framework. Together, we can build a solid foundation for AI development, bridge the global North–South divide, and contribute more to global AI governance.