CANADA VIBES NEWSROOM · EVENING EDITION
July 18, 2026 · 7:00 PM ET

China’s president inaugurated the World AI Cooperation Organization (WAICO) in Shanghai, bringing together 29 founding countries, amid growing technological rivalry with the United States.

The World AI Cooperation Organization (WAICO), a new inter-governmental body, was formally established on July 16. Chinese President Xi Jinping urged countries on Friday to cooperate on artificial intelligence and ensure no single country dominates the technology, speaking at the World Artificial Intelligence Conference in Shanghai.

WAICO’s 29 founding countries include several major Global South nations, including Indonesia, Brazil, Malaysia, South Africa, Senegal, Russia and Pakistan. The organization says its goals are to promote international cooperation and develop AI regulation across member countries to ensure the technology remains beneficial and safe for humanity.

“AI development should not be a solo performance by a single country, but a symphony of international cooperation,” Xi said. The Chinese leader committed to China providing 5,000 AI training opportunities to developing countries over the next five years.

The new organization can be seen as China’s answer to the U.S.-led “Pax Silica” initiative, which focuses on strengthening collaboration with U.S. allies and partners on AI-related supply chains. WAICO positions itself as a direct rival to Pax Silica, which has already signed up 35 countries, compared with 29 for the Beijing-led bloc.

What to watch

Which additional countries may join either bloc, Canada’s position amid this technological rivalry, and how the split affects the development of global AI governance standards.

Sources

• Al Jazeera — “China’s Xi Jinping launches new AI alliance: What is it?”
• Fortune — “Xi offers AI olive branch to the world, calling for ‘symphony of global cooperation’”
• Rappler — “Xi pitches China as leader of new global AI order, challenging US dominance”