The 2026 World AI Conference (WAIC) and High-Level Meeting on Global AI Governance is a testament to China's remarkable achievements in artificial intelligence, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said when addressing the event's opening ceremony in Shanghai on Friday.
Chinese President Xi Jinping attended the ceremony and delivered a keynote speech.
Following Xi's speech, Tokayev and several other world leaders also addressed the event.
"It is my great honor and privilege to join you at this extremely important conference. Over the years, this forum has firmly established itself as one of the world's leading platforms for shaping the global AI agenda. This conference is a testament to China's remarkable achievements in artificial intelligence," said the Kazakh president.
He elaborated on China's achievements and contributions.
"Today, more than half of the world's AI researchers come from the People's Republic of China. Chinese innovators produce the largest share of AI patents globally, while the country's dynamic innovation ecosystem continues to drive breakthroughs across a wide range of advanced technologies. China's leading contribution to open source innovation, open platforms and international technological cooperation creates new opportunities for countries around the globe," said Tokayev.
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet, Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also addressed the ceremony, respectively.
The event is being held from Friday to next Monday, bringing together official representatives, business leaders, scholars and researchers from more than 100 countries and international organizations.
WAIC testament to China's remarkable achievements in AI: Kazakh president
WAIC testament to China's remarkable achievements in AI: Kazakh president
China's Shenzhou-23 astronauts have spent more than 80 days aboard the Tiangong Space Station, where they have advanced a broad slate of scientific experiments and operational training drills over the past week as the mission progresses steadily.
Last week, the three astronauts, namely Zhu Yangzhu, Zhang Zhiyuan, and Lai Ka-ying, carried out multiple parallel space science experiments and tests, according to the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA).
The crew completed in-orbit electroencephalogram (EEG) tests and behavioral experiments for the microgravity intuitive physics project, examining how prolonged spaceflight affects astronauts' brain functional networks and their ability to form intuitive physical representations.
They also collected and processed blood samples for research programs including bone metabolism interactive regulation and space integrative omics, supporting studies on the changing patterns of the human skeletal, nervous and other physiological systems during long-duration spaceflight.
In addition, kinematic characteristic experiments were conducted to provide support for ergonomic design and evaluation.
In the field of psychological and behavioral research, the trio finished an emergency decision-making capability assessment and an in-orbit emotional state test, part of ongoing work to track changes in crew performance and mental status throughout long-term on-orbit missions.
Alongside scientific endeavors, the astronauts pushed ahead with scheduled in-orbit training and emergency drills to reinforce their operational skills and response readiness.
Footage from the orbital complex shows the crew honing their skills on the on-orbit teleoperation rendezvous and docking training system, practicing manual docking, teleoperated docking and manual evacuation maneuvers by operating translation and attitude control handles.
They also completed in-orbit medical rescue training to familiarize themselves with rescue procedures and force application characteristics in a microgravity environment.
Furthermore, the crew carried out the second full-system pressure emergency drill, further consolidating their emergency handling capabilities and improving space-ground coordination efficiency.
China launched the Shenzhou-23 crewed spaceship on May 24. The mission includes a one-year in-orbit study designed to gather data for future long-duration human space missions.
China's Shenzhou-23 crew advance space science experiments, in-orbit training
