At the opening of the World Artificial Intelligence Conference in Shanghai, Chinese President Xi Jinping emphasized on Friday that this technology should not be monopolized by a single country, calling for international cooperation in a field where competition between Washington and Beijing is intensifying.

Day after day, competition is escalating between Chinese startups such as 'Moonshot AI', 'Minimax', and 'Z.AI' and American groups, with a particular focus on more affordable prices for this technology that appeal to users around the world.

Putting regulatory controls in place has become essential to curb the growth of this technology, which fuels disinformation, cyberattacks, and algorithm-based bias, and is used by the military, exploited by hackers, or terrorist groups.

First time

Xi Jinping said during the opening of the conference, which runs until next Monday, that 'the growth of artificial intelligence should not be monopolized by a single country, but should be harmonious in the field of international cooperation'.

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According to Agence France-Presse, it is the first time the Chinese president has delivered a speech at such events, reflecting the strategic importance Beijing attaches to this sector.

Xi stated: 'We must jointly resist... any country prioritizing its own security at the expense of other countries,' in a veiled reference to the restrictions imposed by the United States and the European Union on Chinese technology imports.

Bo Gao, founder of the platform 'Hello China Tech', pointed out that 'the United States is still more advanced in the field of advanced chips, high-precision computing infrastructure, and developing models that require greater financial resources.'

But he stressed that 'China is its fiercest competitor... and its advantages lie in open-source models, cost improvement, speed of use, robotics, and integrating AI into manufacturing processes.'

He considered this conference, known by its acronym 'WAIC', as 'the most important annual event to keep up with the latest trends in the field of artificial intelligence in China.' The conference hosts more than 1,100 companies and presents around 3,000 products and technologies.

'Human-centered'

Xi Jinping stressed the need to 'adopt regulatory laws and regulations, monitoring systems, early warning, and emergency intervention... to ensure that artificial intelligence always remains under human control,' calling for a 'human-centered' approach to this technology.

In this context, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and representatives of 29 countries, including Russia, signed an agreement to establish an international intergovernmental cooperation group in the field of artificial intelligence.

The goal of the International Cooperation Organization on Artificial Intelligence (WAICO), based in Shanghai, China, is to enhance consultation and cooperation among members to ensure a 'healthy and orderly' development of AI, according to Chinese media.

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A spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry said on Thursday that 'China opposes any form of bloc confrontation and technological blockade.'

He noted that Beijing aims to use the conference to 'conduct frank talks' and 'reach consensus', so that 'technological progress becomes an engine for humanity's growth and prosperity.'

Massive investments

Since 2018, the World Artificial Intelligence Conference has been held, bringing together researchers, companies, and decision-makers to showcase the latest innovations in this field and discuss ethical and geopolitical stakes.

Among the most notable products presented in the 2026 edition are the 'M3' model from 'Minimax', the first phone with standalone AI capabilities, an updated version of 'Atlas 950' from 'Huawei' for learning and analysis, as well as many humanoid robots.

On Friday morning, the startup 'Moonshot AI' unveiled its new advanced AI model 'Kimi Kai 3'.

AI has become a pillar of China's industrial policy, driven by massive investments and strong political support, aiming to establish an independent ecosystem from advanced chips to public-facing applications.

Last year, the value of China's AI market exceeded 1.2 trillion yuan (177 billion dollars), with expected growth of more than 30 percent in 2026, according to official figures.

In 2025, China had more than 6,000 companies active in the field of AI.