China has announced plans to provide 5,000 artificial intelligence (AI) training and seminar opportunities to developing countries over the next five years as part of a broader initiative to promote equitable access to AI and strengthen global governance of the rapidly evolving technology.
Chinese President Xi Jinping made the announcement on Friday at the opening of the 2026 World AI Conference and High-Level Meeting on Global AI Governance in Shanghai, where he unveiled a comprehensive international cooperation agenda aimed at advancing AI development, capacity building and global regulation.
As part of the initiative, China will establish international AI application cooperation centres with the African Union (AU), the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the League of Arab States, the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) and BRICS.
In a move expected to benefit climate-vulnerable nations, particularly in Africa, Xi also announced that China would enable 30 countries to access MAZU, an AI-powered meteorological early-warning system designed to improve disaster preparedness and protect communities from extreme weather and other climate-related threats.
Xi said the initiatives reflect China’s commitment to ensuring that artificial intelligence becomes a driver of shared prosperity rather than a source of widening global inequality.
He cautioned that while AI offers unprecedented opportunities for economic and social development, it also raises critical concerns relating to security, ethics, governance, human oversight and equitable access.
“AI development should not be a solo performance by a single country, but a symphony of international cooperation,” Xi said, urging nations to work together to ensure no country is excluded from the benefits of the technological revolution.
He called for a people-centred approach to AI development and advocated the establishment of a global governance framework that ensures the technology is used responsibly and for the benefit of humanity.
The Chinese leader outlined four key priorities for global AI governance: promoting openness and mutually beneficial cooperation to drive innovation; strengthening risk management to ensure AI remains safe and controllable; fostering inclusiveness while respecting cultural diversity; and deepening multilateral cooperation to achieve shared development.
Xi stressed the need for countries to develop comprehensive legal frameworks, regulatory systems, monitoring mechanisms, early-warning capabilities and emergency response measures to prevent the misuse or malicious deployment of AI technologies.
He also warned against turning artificial intelligence into another arena for geopolitical rivalry, calling on countries to reject approaches that prioritise one nation’s security at the expense of others.
Highlighting the interests of the Global South, Xi said international collaboration is essential to bridge the growing AI and digital divide and prevent what he described as “new historical injustice” in access to frontier technologies.
He noted that China has consistently supported United Nations initiatives on AI cooperation and capacity building while championing the establishment of the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization (WAICO).
According to Xi, WAICO has now been established in Shanghai, describing it as a significant milestone that responds to the aspirations of developing countries seeking a greater role in shaping the future of artificial intelligence.
The announcement comes as African countries, including Nigeria, intensify efforts to expand their digital economies, build local AI capabilities and deploy emerging technologies across critical sectors such as education, healthcare, agriculture, security and public administration.
Reaffirming China’s commitment to international collaboration, Xi said Beijing stands ready to work with countries worldwide to maximise the opportunities presented by AI while effectively managing its associated risks.
He emphasised that the ultimate objective of global AI governance should be to ensure that artificial intelligence remains under meaningful human control and serves as “a mighty force that increases the well-being of humanity and advances human civilisation.”
The 2026 World AI Conference comes amid an intensifying global race among governments and technology companies to shape the future regulatory framework for artificial intelligence, as concerns mount over misinformation, privacy, cybersecurity, autonomous systems, job displacement and unequal access to advanced technologies.
