Xi Calls for 'People-Centred' Global AI Cooperation at Shanghai Conference, Challenging U.S. Influence

Xi Jinping used the World Artificial Intelligence Conference in Shanghai to promote open-source AI and position China as a global AI governance leader.

Chinese President Xi Jinping opened the World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) in Shanghai on Friday with a keynote address urging countries to treat AI governance as a shared global responsibility rather than a tool for advancing narrow national interests. Xi emphasized a 'people-centred' approach to AI development and warned against nations prioritizing their own security concerns over those of others — a pointed message in the context of ongoing U.S.-China tech rivalry, including American restrictions on advanced chip exports to China. Xi used the platform to champion open-source AI development, framing it as a path toward more equitable global access to the technology. The choice of WAIC — one of China's highest-profile technology gatherings — as the venue signals Beijing's intent to shape the international conversation around AI standards and governance, not merely participate in it. The speech comes as the United States and its allies have moved to restrict China's access to advanced semiconductors and AI infrastructure, while China has accelerated domestic AI development. By advocating for openness and multilateral cooperation, Beijing is presenting an alternative governance framework to the one championed by Washington and Western technology companies.

Why it matters

The framing of AI governance is increasingly a geopolitical contest, and China's public push for open-source development and shared oversight could attract support from countries wary of U.S.-dominated tech standards. How global AI rules are written will affect everything from military applications to economic competitiveness.

What's next

Watch for whether Xi's open-source framing gains traction among Global South nations or prompts a formal Chinese proposal in multilateral AI governance forums.

Key facts

• Xi Jinping delivered the keynote speech at the World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) in Shanghai
• The speech took place on a Friday, with the exact date not specified in the sources
• Xi explicitly warned against countries prioritizing their own national security interests over those of others in AI
• Xi promoted open-source AI as a model for global development
• China framed itself as a leader of a new global AI governance order, directly challenging U.S. influence
• WAIC is one of China's most prominent annual technology conferences

Bias & framing notes

AP News reported Xi's remarks in relatively neutral, straightforward terms focused on the cooperation message. Modern Diplomacy framed the same speech more competitively — emphasizing China's challenge to U.S. dominance and use of the word 'unveils' to suggest a strategic reveal. Neither source quotes Xi directly at length, and neither surfaces any critical response or Western reaction, leaving the account somewhat one-sided toward Beijing's stated framing.

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