Russia, China, 25 more states sign agreement to create World AI Cooperation Organization

Photo: Sputnik

A signing ceremony of the Agreement on the Establishment of the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization was held in Shanghai on Thursday.

Russia, China and more than 25 other countries have signed an agreement on the establishment of a world organization for cooperation in the field of AI, a Sputnik correspondent reported on Thursday, Sputnik reports.

The signing ceremony took place in Shanghai ahead of the World Artificial Intelligence Conference 2026.

Russia was represented by Digital Development Minister Maksut Shadayev, while Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi signed on behalf of Beijing.

The agreement was concluded ahead of the World Artificial Intelligence Conference and the High-Level Conference on Global AI Governance, set to take place in Shanghai from July 17 to 20, where Xi Jinping is expected to present China’s proposals on AI development and governance.

Understanding the mission of the World AI Cooperation Organization

The proposal to create the World AI Cooperation Organization represents a major milestone in China’s broader, long-term foreign policy strategy. For years, Beijing has promoted a style of global governance that features extensive consultation, joint contribution, and shared benefits, Techgolly stresses.

By applying this cooperative philosophy to the field of artificial intelligence, China is taking concrete action to respond to the urgent calls of developing nations that are increasingly shut out of the Western-led technology ecosystem.

WAICO is designed to function as a global platform where countries can deepen their technical cooperation, share raw research data, and co-develop practical AI applications that can drive shared economic prosperity.

Unlike Western-led technology coalitions—which often focus heavily on establishing restrictive safety rules, licensing limits, and export controls—the proposed Chinese organization is pitching a message of open, inclusive development, promising to help every member nation build its own sovereign digital capabilities regardless of its economic or political alignment.

The primary sales pitch of the World AI Cooperation Organization is its commitment to bridging the “intelligent divide” — the massive, multi-billion-dollar gap in computing power that currently separates the wealthy West from the rest of the world. As artificial intelligence becomes the primary engine of modern economic productivity, possessing raw computing power has become a basic requirement for national development.

The accelerated establishment of the World AI Cooperation Organization in Shanghai represents a historic, highly calculated masterclass in global technology diplomacy. By launching this multilateral cooperative, China is successfully presenting itself as the champion of the Global South, offering developing nations a collaborative, non-coercive alternative to Western technological protectionism and export controls.

Supported by the upcoming 2026 World Artificial Intelligence Conference in July, the new organization is positioned to bridge the rapidly widening “intelligent divide,” providing under-resourced nations with direct, subsidized access to open-weight Chinese software models and regional computing pools.

While the deep trust deficit with Western allies and the challenge of standardizing international regulations pose significant long-term obstacles, WAICO proves that the future of artificial intelligence will not be decided by Silicon Valley alone.

By building a massive, inclusive alliance of developing nations, China is successfully reshaping global tech governance, ensuring that the next generation of digital power is built on a foundation of shared benefits and collective sovereignty.

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