WAIC 2026: 29 countries sign agreement founding China-led World AI Cooperation Organization
The 2026 World Artificial Intelligence Conference in Shanghai (July 17-20), attended by representatives of 102 countries and organizations, ended with 29 countries from Asia, Africa, Latin America and Europe signing the agreement establishing the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization as founding members.
Key facts
- Held 2026-07-17 to 07-20 in Shanghai with a High-Level Meeting on Global AI Governance
- Representatives from 102 countries and international organizations; 1,568 experts incl. 432 foreign speakers; 1,100+ exhibiting companies
- 29 countries signed the founding agreement of the World AI Cooperation Organization
- Shanghai Institute for Physical AI and Robotics inaugurated
- ~¥20.36B in intended purchases, +25% YoY
What happened
China used WAIC to institutionalize its alternative AI-governance track, turning its 2025 proposal for a global AI cooperation body into a treaty-based organization.
Why it matters
A China-centered multilateral AI body with Global South membership competes with US-led and UN processes for shaping international AI norms.
Changelog
- 2026-09-29: created
Sources (3)
- officialShanghai government: WAIC 2026 seals major deals, deepens global ties
- pressCGTN: What WAIC 2026 reveals about AI's next chapter
- discussionModern Diplomacy: Xi Jinping's 2026 WAIC speech
id: 2026-07-20-waic-2026-world-ai-cooperation-organization · updated 2026-09-29 · open in the interactive timeline