The signing ceremony for the agreement to establish the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization was held in Shanghai.
On July 16, 2026, the signing ceremony for the agreement to establish the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization was held in Shanghai. Wang Yi, member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Foreign Minister, attended the ceremony and signed the agreement on behalf of the Chinese government.
The agreement clarifies that the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization (WAIC) is an independent intergovernmental organization that adheres to the purposes of the UN Charter, upholds the principles of consultation, joint contribution, and shared benefits, and insists on a people-centered approach. Its aim is to promote international cooperation and global governance in artificial intelligence, ensuring the healthy and orderly development of AI in a beneficial, safe, and equitable direction, ultimately benefiting all humankind. The organization’s headquarters are located in Shanghai, China.
Representatives from 29 countries, including Kazakhstan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development, Madiyev; Laos’ Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Thongsavanh; Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Dar; Russia’s Deputy Chief of Staff, Oreshkin; and Indonesia’s Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs, Airlangga Hartarto, signed the agreement, becoming founding members. Representatives from countries and international organizations, including UN Secretary-General AntĂłnio Guterres, attended the ceremony.
: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China