Chinese President Xi Jinping has announced that China will provide 5,000 artificial intelligence (AI) training and seminar opportunities for developing countries over the next five years as part of efforts to bridge the global AI and digital divide.
Xi made the announcement while delivering a keynote address titled “Joining Hands to Build a Just and Equitable System for Global AI Governance” at the opening ceremony of the 2026 World AI Conference and High-Level Meeting on Global AI Governance in Shanghai.
He said the initiative is aimed at strengthening AI capacity in the Global South, promoting sustainable development and preventing what he described as “new historical injustice” in the field of artificial intelligence.
According to the Chinese leader, China will also establish international AI application cooperation centres with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the African Union (AU), BRICS, the League of Arab States, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC).
In addition, Xi announced plans to extend China’s AI-powered meteorological warning system, MAZU, to 30 countries to improve disaster preparedness and protect vulnerable communities.
He stressed that AI should remain people-centred and serve as a tool for shared prosperity, sustainable development and global security. He also called for stronger international cooperation to ensure that the benefits of AI are accessible to all nations.
Xi outlined four priorities for global AI governance: promoting innovation through openness and collaboration; strengthening AI safety and risk management; encouraging inclusiveness and respect for cultural diversity; and advancing a multilateral governance framework under the United Nations.
Highlighting China’s domestic progress, Xi said the country’s core smart economy industries are now valued at over one trillion yuan, supported by the AI Plus Initiative and strengthened regulatory frameworks designed to ensure AI remains safe, secure and under human oversight.
He added that China would continue contributing to global AI governance through initiatives such as the AI Capacity Building Action Plan and the newly established World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization (WAICO).
Xi concluded by urging countries to embrace international cooperation rather than competition, saying AI development should be “a symphony of international cooperation” that advances the well-being of humanity and drives shared global progress.