by H E Yang Shu, Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China in Grenada
Major changes unseen in a century are accelerating, and the world has entered an unprecedented period of active innovation on AI technologies. This carries within it great opportunities as well as challenges to governance.
From 17–20 July 2026, the World AI Conference and High-Level Meeting on Global AI Governance was hosted in Shanghai, China. President Xi Jinping delivered a keynote address titled Joining Hands to Build a Just and Equitable System for Global AI Governance, elaborating China’s position on AI development and governance, examining the issue from four critical dimensions: development, security, civilisation, and governance. Since its inception in 2018, the Conference has been successfully held for eight consecutive editions, during which China’s AI governance concepts and practices have grown increasingly mature, establishing the country as an indispensable force in global AI governance.
As President Xi observed, we human beings must answer the questions posed by our times: How to get along with thinking machines? How to ensure security when algorithm is part of decision making? How to tackle ethical challenges by technologies through adaptive governance? How to realise AI for all when the divide keeps widening? In China’s view, all countries should take a people-centred approach and develop AI for the positive and for good.
To this end, China has put forward a comprehensive approach centred on 4 observations:
First, adhere to openness and win-win and boost innovation-driven development. Artificial intelligence is the crystallised fruit of humanity’s collective wisdom. Innovation breakthroughs cannot be achieved without the collective support of global industrial and innovation chains. Only by embracing openness, mutual benefit, and cooperation can we effectively break through resource bottlenecks and enhance innovation efficiency. Some countries and companies have been touting so-called “distillation” concepts in an attempt to belittle China’s capacity for independent innovation —such attempts are utterly misguided. The conference showcased exactly the opposite: Chinese firms unveiled the world’s largest open-source AI model with 2.8 trillion parameters, and a wave of open-source models moved from isolated breakthroughs to a systemic leap forward. This is independent innovation that provides new pathways for global AI development.
Second, strengthen risk awareness and ensure that AI is secure and controllable. Cutting-edge AI models may trigger various types of risks. If misused, these technologies could pose significant threats. We must strengthen risk management, implement agile governance, and respond quickly to prevent technological runaway, ensuring that AI remains under human control at all times. President Xi also called for jointly opposing “overstretching the national security concept in the field of AI and placing one country’s security over that of others.” The message is clear: security concerns should not become a pretext for protectionism. Just as the “Dawn 8000” supercomputing cluster has been opened to universities, enterprises, and individual users through the national supercomputing network, security and openness can and must coexist.
Third, encourage inclusiveness and promote mutual learning between civilisations. AI should serve as a bridge for civilisational exchange, not a chasm that deepens divides. We must respect the differences in history, culture and social systems among countries, and promote AI technologies that adapt to diverse cultural contexts. The “Bubbo 1” robot, capable of active emotional companionship, and the smart pharmacy robots now operating in Shanghai demonstrate that AI is increasingly moving from the “digital world” to the “physical world”, and its design must reflect the values and needs of diverse societies.
Fourth, advocate solidarity and improve global governance. Whether global AI can achieve development for good and for all depends on whether we can practice true multilateralism and reject the law of the jungle. We should support the UN Global AI Governance Dialogue and the International Scientific Panel on AI in playing an active role, and work toward forming a global governance framework for AI with broad consensus.
Three tangible outcomes from this World AI Conference and High-Level Meeting on Global AI Governance demonstrated that these observations are taking root.
First, the establishment of the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organisation (WAICO). As the Chinese saying goes, “A single string cannot make music, and a single tree does not make a forest.” China initiated WAICO with the commitment to providing more international public goods, helping the Global South strengthen capacity building, and bridging the digital and AI divides. The signing ceremony was held during the conference, with 29 countries from Asia, Africa, Latin America and Europe signing on as founding members. WAICO provides an institutional platform for equal participation rooted in the principle of “extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits,” significantly enhancing the representation of Global South countries. It stands as an important milestone in AI development history.
Second, 3 concrete measures to support Global South capacity building. President Xi announced that in the next 5 years, China will provide developing countries with 5,000 opportunities in AI training and seminar programs; develop international AI application cooperation centres with ASEAN, the Arab League, the African Union, CELAC, the SCO, and BRICS; and enable 30 countries to use the AI-powered meteorological warning system.
Third, deep international cooperation on AI development. The conference hosted over 150 thematic forums and dozens of bilateral exchanges. The exhibition area exceeded 100,000 square meters, with over 1,100 exhibitors and more than 3,000 products on display, facilitating the global flow of innovation.
The concerns raised at WAICO resonate powerfully with regions like the Caribbean. On 1 June 2026, Grenada appointed Hon. Ron Redhead as the Minister for ICT, which proves Grenada’s commitment to advancing its digital agenda. Hon. Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell has stated that small states must work together to navigate emerging global challenges, including developments in AI, digital trade, data governance and internet governance. For developing countries like Grenada, the measures announced in Shanghai are directly relevant. The training opportunities, the cooperation centres, and the early warning system offer tangible pathways to building capacity. WAICO provides something equally valuable: a seat at the table where global AI rules are made. China’s emphasis on bridging the AI divide and preventing new historical injustice speaks directly to Caribbean aspirations for an inclusive AI future.
For Grenadian people, these discussions are not abstract. They touch on whether a farmer can access AI-powered weather forecasting to protect their crops, whether a young student can acquire the skills for a job, or whether a small business can participate in the digital economy. The concrete measures announced at the conference offer tangible pathways to building the skills and resilience that people in the region urgently need.
As the world’s largest developing country, China initiated the establishment of WAICO with the commitment to providing more international public goods, helping the Global South strengthen capacity building, and bridging the digital and AI divides so that AI can truly benefit people across the world. China stands ready to work with all parties to make WAICO an international platform for enhancing mutual trust, building consensus, and deepening cooperation, and welcomes more countries to join in its growth and steady development. China will continue to demonstrate its responsibility as a major country and join hands with all nations to build a just and equitable global AI governance system.
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