In Shanghai, the Chinese President Xi Jinping has unveiled an ambitious global Artificial Intelligence (AI) cooperation strategy, pledging 5000 AI training opportunities for developing countries, as Beijing seeks to position itself as a leading partner in narrowing the global digital divide and shaping the future of AI governance.
Announced at the opening of the 2026 World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) in Shanghai, the multi-year initiative forms part of China’s AI Capacity-Building Action Plan for Good and for All, a framework designed to help countries in the Global South develop AI infrastructure, strengthen technical expertise, improve digital governance and expand access to emerging technologies.
The initiative goes beyond technology transfer. It reflects China’s broader diplomatic effort to deepen partnerships with developing nations while promoting a more inclusive international AI governance system under the framework of the United Nations.
At the heart of the proposal is the creation of the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization (WAICO), a multilateral institution to be headquartered in Shanghai. Backed initially by 29 countries, the organization is intended to coordinate AI cooperation, promote common governance standards and expand access to AI technologies among developing economies.
China also announced plans to establish AI cooperation centres with major regional organisations, including the African Union, ASEAN, BRICS, the League of Arab States and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC). These centres are expected to support joint research, policy exchanges, technology transfer and industrial collaboration tailored to regional development priorities.
Another flagship initiative is the expansion of China’s MAZU AI-powered meteorological system, which will provide 30 countries with advanced early-warning capabilities for extreme weather and climate-related disasters. Officials say the programme could strengthen disaster preparedness, safeguard agricultural production and improve community resilience in vulnerable regions.
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