Chinese President Xi Jinping will attend the 2026 World Artificial Intelligence Conference and High-Level Meeting on Global AI Governance in Shanghai from July 17 to 20, marking his first in-person participation since the event launched in 2018 [1, 2]. He will deliver a keynote address at the conference’s opening ceremony, where he is expected to outline China’s policies, positions, and proposals on AI development and governance [1, 3, 4].
The conference theme is "Intelligent Partners, Co-create the Future," and it will include more than 140 forums, over 1,400 guests, 1,100 exhibitors, and over 300 global product debuts [1]. The event aims to promote international cooperation on AI, focus on safe and orderly governance, and build a platform for trust and consensus among stakeholders [3, 2, 4].
Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said, "AI technological innovation is undergoing broad-based breakthroughs, demonstrating unprecedented dynamism. Such progress brings both opportunities and challenges to the international community, making AI governance a profound topic of our times" [3]. He added that China looks forward to using the conference to "enhance mutual trust, pool consensus, and deepen cooperation so as to promote the sound, safe and orderly development of AI" and to make it a milestone in AI history [3].
In 2025, Xi Jinping described AI as entering a period of "explosive development" and urged Shanghai to become a leader in AI development and governance during a visit to a local startup incubator [1]. China has also introduced the Global AI Governance Initiative and seeks to support AI capacity-building efforts in the Global South, according to official statements [3].
Xi Jinping’s keynote will provide a comprehensive statement of China’s approach to AI development and governance, emphasizing signaling on both domestic policy and international cooperation [2].
The conference is set to open in just over a month on July 17, 2026 in Shanghai, bringing together a wide range of global AI stakeholders.
