Xi to set out vision for AI development

President Xi Jinping will set out China's policy positions, vision and proposals on artificial intelligence development and governance at one of the field's most influential international events, to be held in Shanghai this week.

Xi will attend the opening ceremony of the 2026 World Artificial Intelligence Conference and High-Level Meeting on Global AI Governance and deliver a keynote speech, Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian announced on Monday.

The four-day conference, themed "AI Partnership for a Brighter Future", will run from Friday to Monday.

China has invited government officials from around the world, representatives of industry, universities and research institutions, as well as heads of international organizations, to attend the gathering, Lin told a regular news briefing in Beijing.

Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul will attend the conference during an official visit to China from Thursday to Monday, Lin said.

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet will attend and address the opening ceremony, according to Cambodia's Foreign Ministry.

"AI technological innovation is undergoing broad-based breakthroughs and demonstrating unprecedented dynamism," Lin said.

Such advances are bringing both opportunities and challenges to the international community, making AI governance "a profound topic of our times", he added.

In recent years, China has worked to advance the four global initiatives and the Global AI Governance Initiative proposed by Xi in the field of AI, Lin said.

The country has remained committed to providing international public goods, advocating AI for good and for all with real actions, and helping Global South countries strengthen their AI capacity. These efforts have been widely recognized by the international community, he added.

"Through this conference, China looks forward to building a platform for all parties to enhance mutual trust, build consensus and deepen cooperation," said Lin.

He added that China hopes the gathering will promote the sound, safe and orderly development of AI and become "a milestone in the history of AI development".

Speaking at a news conference in Shanghai on July 7, Vice-Mayor Chen Jie said that this year's conference was expected to reach a record scale, attracting more than 1,100 companies, displaying over 3,000 exhibits and featuring more than 300 products making their global debut.

For the first time, the exhibition area will exceed 100,000 square meters.

The intelligent computing and embodied AI sections will each bring together more than 200 companies.

Leading technology companies, major State-owned enterprises and top multinational corporations will exhibit alongside their ecosystem partners, showcasing the latest AI-powered applications across a wide range of industries.

Shanghai has previously hosted the conference for eight consecutive years since its launch in 2018. Over the years, the event has developed into an important platform for showcasing cutting-edge AI technologies from China and abroad, as well as for deepening international cooperation.

mojingxi@chinadaily.com.cn