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Counterweight to US Pax Silica: China and 28 Countries to Establish World AI Cooperation Organization

The order to establish a new World AI Cooperation Organization (WAICO) is seen as a counter move to US led Pax Silica alliance.
Representatives of 19 countries pose for a group photo at the World AI Conference in Shanghai on July 17. Source: Foreign Affairs Ministry of China.
July 17, 2026 03:07 PM IST | Written by Supriya Singh | Edited by Vaibhav Jha

Twenty nine countries including China, Russia, South Africa, Pakistan, Indonesia and Kazakhstan signed an agreement for establishing World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization (WAICO) even as Chinese Premier Xi Jinping called for a new global order on AI.

On the first day of 2026 World AI Conference (WAIC) in Shanghai, representatives from 29 countries signed an agreement for the setting up of WAICO with the intention to “promote international cooperation and global governance on AI, ensure that #AI is beneficial, safe and fair, thereby promoting its healthy and orderly development to benefit all humanity.”

According to the Chinese government, the WAICO will be an intergovernmental organization which will uphold the purposes of the UN Charter, the principles of consultation, joint contribution, shared benefits, and will focus on a people-centered approach.

In his maiden in-person appearance at the WAIC 2026 in Shanghai, Xi Jinping, president of the People’s Republic of China referred to WAICO as China’s answer on behalf of the Global South.

“Thanks to our joint efforts, WAICO has come into being in Shanghai. Our vision from one year ago is now a reality. This is a major move by China to answer the call of the global south and unite the international community together to promote vigorously AI development and governance. It will be an important milestone in the history of AI development to further support global AI development and to advance global AI capacity building (sic),” said Jinping.

The move by China comes weeks after the US invited 35 nations to sign ‘Declaration on AI Opportunity’ under Pax Silica initiative to secure the supply chain for semiconductors, AI and rare earth elements. Pax Silica is widely regarded as a counter move by the US against China’s increasing hold on the supply of rare earth and critical minerals necessary for semiconductors and AI industries.

As part of China’s own outreach program on AI, the Chinese President Xi Jinping also announced providing 5,000 opportunities in AI training and seminar programs to developing nations and growing international AI application cooperation centers with ASEAN, the League of Arab States, the African Union, the Community of Latin American.

Also Read: China To Answer The Call of Global South: Xi Jinping Bats for a New World Order on AI

Authors

  • AI FrontPage Reporter Supriya Singh

    Supriya Singh is a Reporter at AI FrontPage covering the AI & Education and AI & Jobs beats. She brings six years of print and digital experience, including three years at The Asian Age, where she reported on higher education, Delhi government, and crime. She is based in Delhi-NCR.

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  • Vaibhav Jha, editor and co-founder at AI FrontPage

    Vaibhav Jha is an Editor and Co-founder of AI FrontPage. In his decade long career in journalism, Vaibhav has reported for publications including The Indian Express, Hindustan Times, and The New York Times, covering the intersection of technology, policy, and society. Outside work, he’s usually trying to persuade people to watch Anurag Kashyap films.

    LinkedIn

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