China's Comprehensive Efforts in Global AI Governance Revealed at WAIC 2026

Recently, a commentary from The New York Times articulated a comparison between the paths of artificial intelligence development, likening it to the contrasting trajectories of nuclear weapons and nuclear energy. These perspectives pose an intriguing conundrum: is AI meant to become a strategic tool for monopoly and competition, or is it a public good to be shared for the welfare of all humanity? China, firmly positioned on the latter side, advocates for AI that is centered on people and benefits society as a whole.

During the opening ceremony of the 2026 World AI Conference (WAIC) and High-Level Meeting on Global AI Governance, President Xi Jinping called upon nations to collaborate in forging a more just and equitable system for global AI governance. This call reflects not only a deep understanding of the technological and historical contexts but also highlights a commitment to the common good through the governance of AI. The long-term vision aims to foster a community with a shared future, underpinned by the principles of openness and win-win cooperation.

The recent unveiling of China's next-generation large model, Kimi K3, marks a significant milestone, with its 2.8 trillion parameters making it the largest open-source model globally. As a key player in the fast-evolving open-source large model landscape, China has facilitated over 10 billion downloads, enhancing domestic demand and accessibility for advanced technologies through competitive performance. Such innovations are transforming into preferred productivity tools worldwide.

China’s AI+ International Cooperation Initiative delineates a plan across eight pivotal areas, focusing on sharing open-source AI ecosystems and establishing coherent regulations and standards. Furthermore, the introduction of Fenghe, an open-source large language model, underscores China’s commitment to fostering collaborative growth in AI.

Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev acknowledged China's leading role in open-source AI innovation, citing the opportunities it presents for global development. China is making significant strides in ensuring AI remains safe and reliable amid rapid advancements in reasoning capabilities and autonomy. As articulated by Turing Award laureate Yoshua Bengio, the importance of risk assessment and preparation is paramount. China's Global AI Governance Initiative includes proposals targeting risk classification, legal improvements, and ethical guidelines aimed at globally enhancing the safety, reliability, and fairness of AI systems.

In alignment with this vision, China has released versions 1.0 and 2.0 of an AI safety governance framework that incorporates safety protocols throughout all stages of model development and deployment. As part of its commitment to colaboration, the country has established the World AI Cooperation Organization, which has already gathered 38 founding member nations. This initiative represents the first intergovernmental entity devoted to AI, tasked with fostering inclusive development under the framework of the UN Charter.

China’s approach is not limited to governance; it's also about nurturing inclusiveness among civilizations. The analogy of the Dujiangyan irrigation system highlights this principle of harnessing natural flows for mutual benefit. By advocating for mutual respect and coexistence among diverse civilizations, China aims to ensure that the contributions and beauty of every culture are recognized.

In collaboration with global partners, China is pushing the boundaries of AI utilization. Notably, the cultural interactions fostered by AI, evidenced through initiatives like the