Xi Jinping Delivers First Keynote at World AI Conference as China Pushes Global Governance Body

Chinese President Xi Jinping attended the opening ceremony of the World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) in Shanghai for the first time on July 17, 2026, delivering a keynote address that laid out Beijing's policy positions and vision for artificial intelligence development and governance. It marked the first time the head of state had spoken at the annual event since its launch in 2018, a move analysts read as a signal that AI has been elevated to a top national priority amid intensifying rivalry with the United States.