No country should fall behind in AI development: Chinese FM

China

No country should fall behind in AI development: Chinese FM

2026-07-18 19:33 Last Updated At：21:17

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with Limpho Tau, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Relations of Lesotho, in Shanghai on Saturday, stressing that no country should be left behind in the development of artificial intelligence (AI).

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, welcomed Tau, who is in China to attend the World Artificial Intelligence Conference and to sign an agreement to establish the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization (WAICO) on behalf of the Lesotho government.

In the development of AI, no country should fall behind, Wang said, adding that China's initiative to establish the WAICO aimed to enhance capacity building for Global South countries, promote the positive development of AI, and benefit all mankind.

Wang said China is willing to encourage Chinese enterprises to invest in and start businesses in Lesotho, welcome more of Lesotho's characteristic products to enter the Chinese market, and promote bilateral relations into broader fields and at higher levels.

Tau said Lesotho is very honored to be a founding member of the organization. He added that Lesotho looks forward to actively participating in the construction of the organization, contributing to the country's economic development, and safeguarding the common rights and interests of the Global South countries.

The Lesotho side is willing to promote practical cooperation with China in various fields under the framework of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, and continuously enrich the connotation of the strategic partnership between the two countries, Tau noted.

Railway ports in Xinjiang see surge in China-Europe freight train trips

More than 10,000 China-Europe freight trains have passed through Alashankou and Horgos -- the two major railway ports in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region -- so far in 2026, setting a new record for the corresponding period of the past 15 years since the entry into operation of the cross-border China-Europe freight train service in 2011.

The milestone train marking the 10,000th train trip, loaded with machinery and electronic products, departing for Malaszewicze, Poland on Friday.

Port operations have seen a significant efficiency boost, driven by smart port modernization and streamlined customs protocols. Import cargo clearance has been slashed from two to three days to under 16 hours, while export processing has been reduced from six hours to just one hour.

The two Xinjiang ports now handle more than 50 China-Europe (Central Asia) freight train trips per day on average, a clear sign that the westward overland cross-border corridor is operating with far greater efficiency.

Alashankou, also known as Alataw Pass, now hosts 129 China-Europe freight train routes leading to 21 other countries, while the Horgos railway port operates 91 such routes leading to 18 other countries. Together, they handle more than 200 types of cargo -- from auto parts and machinery to electronics and daily consumer goods.