The establishment of the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization (WAICO) will be an important milestone in the history of AI development, said Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday.
Delivering a keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the 2026 World AI Conference and High-Level Meeting on Global AI Governance, Xi Jinping announced the establishment of the organization.
"We often say in China, 'A single string cannot make music, and a single tree does not make a forest.' AI development should not be a solo performance by a single country, but a symphony of international cooperation. Thanks to our joint efforts, WAICO has come into being in Shanghai. 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," Xi said.
Themed "AI Partnership for a Brighter Future," the four-day 2026 World AI Conference includes more than 140 forums, bringing together 1,400 guests from home and abroad.
Establishment of World AI Cooperation Organization important milestone in AI development history: Xi
Establishment of World AI Cooperation Organization important milestone in AI development history: Xi
China witnessed a net increase of approximately 160 billion U.S. dollars in foreign capital inflows during the first five months of 2026, representing a marked improvement in the country's appeal to global investors, the State Administration of Foreign Exchange (SAFE) said on Friday.
"Balance of payments data showed that foreign investors' various types of investment in China recorded a net increase of about 160 billion U.S. dollars in the first five months of the year, significantly outperformed the same period last year. This includes direct investment, portfolio investment, and deposits and loans absorbed from abroad. China maintains its position as the world's second-largest destination for accumulated foreign investment stock," Zhao Yuchao, head of SAFE Balance of Payments Department, told reporters at a press briefing, adding that China maintains its position as the world's second-largest destination for accumulated foreign investment stock.
The SAFE data also showed China's foreign investment structure has continued to shift toward higher-value and more innovation-driven sectors.
"The SAFE cross-border receipts and payments data showed that in the first half of the year, foreign capital inflows into China's high-tech services and high-tech manufacturing sectors increased by 61 percent year on year, accounting for 36 percent of total capital inflows, up 11 percentage points from the same period last year. The data indicates foreign investment in China has gradually shifted in recent years, from seeking the cost and scale advantages of 'Made in China', to jointly participating in the development of 'Created in China'," Zhao said.
Foreign investment into China sees 160-bln-USD net increase in Jan-May period: SAFE
