World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC)

The 2026 edition of the World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC), including the High-Level Meeting on Global Governance of Artificial Intelligence and a major technology exhibition, held in Shanghai, China, from July 17-20, 2026. Guests included President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Prime Minister of Cambodia Hun Sen, Prime Minister of Thailand Anutin Charnvirakul, UN Secretary-General António Guterres, Assistant to the President of the Russian Federation Maxim Oreshkin, and high-ranking delegates from more than 100 countries and international organizations, including the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. Chinese President Xi Jinping opened the Conference, outlining key modalities for AI development, including a people-centered approach and the goal of AI for good and progress. China announced it will provide 5,000 quotas for participation in exchange programs over the next 5 years and establish cooperation centers with ASEAN, the Arab League, the African Union, CELAC, BRICS, and the SCO. On the eve of the Conference, the Agreement on the Establishment of the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization was signed by representatives of 29 countries, including 11 SCO member/community states: Belarus, Cambodia, Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Myanmar, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.