China Launches World AI Body, Pushes Inclusive Governance Model
Since 2018, the World AI Conference (WAIC) has been held annually in Shanghai, showcasing Chinese advancements in artificial intelligence. This year's event drew global attention with the participation of Chinese President Xi Jinping, alongside several heads of state and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.
Xi's presence turned the conference into a platform for presenting an alternative framework for global AI governance. At the core is the World AI Cooperation Organisation (WAICO), a new international institution proposed last year and now operational. Along with China, 29 countries including Pakistan and Russia have signed the agreement.
WAICO aims to ensure AI developments and benefits are accessible to all, including developing nations lacking resources to build their own AI systems. It commits to 'extensive consultation and joint contribution for shared benefit,' positioning itself as a more inclusive alternative to Western frameworks that emphasise ethics, safety, and responsibility.
In his keynote, Xi stressed that 'AI development should not be a solo performance by a single country, but a symphony of international cooperation,' and called for opposing 'overstretching the national security concept' in AI, placing one country's security over others.
The push reflects concerns that legitimate issues like safety might be used to deny technology access. Historically, environmental standards, child labour, or intellectual property have been pretexts for trade restrictions. For example, the recent shutdown of Anthropic's AI models in the US following a government directive restricting access to non-US nationals.
As AI development is largely US-led, the US and Europe are spearheading governance debates. Multiple initiatives exist, including the UN-initiated Global Dialogue and the AI Summit in New Delhi. These have produced declarations, task forces, and institutions, but the fundamental question remains: who writes the rules? The answer will shape who benefits from and dominates AI in the coming years.
