China-Led World AI Cooperation Organization Established in Shanghai

Summary

The World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization (WAICO) was established in Shanghai in July 2026 as a China-led intergovernmental body focused on artificial intelligence cooperation and digital development, particularly in the Global South. China first proposed the organization in 2025, and 29 countries signed its founding agreement on July 16, 2026, ahead of the World Artificial Intelligence Conference; eight more countries later joined, bringing membership to 37. Bangladesh joined as an observer, while Singapore was listed as an invitee. The organization is described as open to all sovereign states and as a potential counterweight to the US-led Pax Silica framework, with its stated areas of interest including AI governance, semiconductors, rare-earth supply chains, and technical cooperation. Its structure consists of a council of member states as the highest decision-making authority and a secretariat led by a secretary-general and two deputies serving three-year terms. China has emphasized open-source artificial intelligence within the organization, amid wider adoption of Chinese open-weight models. Analysts disagree about how influential WAICO will become: one view is that Beijing could use it to expand bilateral AI cooperation and influence multilateral policy discussions, while another expects the body to concentrate on technical cooperation and capacity-building rather than enforceable regulation of the global AI industry. Indonesian analyst Heru Sutadi said it should address the risk of an AI divide by advancing more inclusive access to the technology.