China’s UN envoy stresses cooperation in global AI governance

A Chinese envoy on Friday stressed China’s push for cooperation with other countries on global artificial intelligence (AI) governance through the United Nations (UN) platform.

At a briefing organized by the Chinese mission at UN Headquarters, Fu Cong, China’s permanent representative to the UN, emphasized the country’s commitment to fostering discussion and cooperation with other nations through the UN platform. He said the talks would focus on major issues concerning the future of global AI governance, guided by principles of openness, open‑source cooperation, mutual benefit, joint contribution and shared benefit.

The 2026 World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) and High-Level Meeting on Global AI Governance took place in Shanghai from July 17 to 20. Chinese President Xi Jinping delivered a keynote speech at the opening ceremony.

In his address, Xi outlined China’s vision for global AI governance, calling for openness, shared innovation, and cooperation through multilateral platforms. He emphasized that artificial intelligence should serve common development goals while safeguarding security and fairness, framing the UN as a central forum for dialogue.

China’s UN envoy Fu Cong underscored the United Nations as the central platform for advancing that vision.

"The United Nations is the most universal, representative and authoritative multilateral platform for global AI governance. In this connection, the World AI Corporation Organization, is designed to complement and reinforce the UN's work on AI governance by focusing on capacity building, policy dialogue, technical cooperation and application of AI," Fu said.

"China firmly supports the United Nations Global Dialogue on Artificial Intelligence governance, and the International Scientific Panel on Artificial Intelligence. We also support harnessing AI to advance the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. China stands ready to strengthen policy coordination, institutional cooperation and practical collaboration with the United Nations, and to support the UN in playing an even greater role in global AI governance," he said.

Amandeep Gill, the UN secretary-general's envoy on technology, praised the WAIC as a "milestone" in prioritizing international AI capacity-building. He expressed hope for close cooperation between the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization and the UN.

"Shanghai WAIC this year marked a significant step forward in placing AI capacity building on the international agenda as a top priority so that no country is left behind in terms of computing power, expertise and applications," he said.

The briefing was attended by representatives from over 70 countries and international organizations.

China’s UN envoy stresses cooperation in global AI governance

Chinese crested terns, one of the world's rarest seabird species, have been recorded in coastal wetlands in Nantong, east China's Jiangsu Province, for a seventh consecutive year.

Bird photographers captured images of the critically endangered birds on July 23 and 24, with sightings this season reported to be more frequent than in previous years.

With a global population of just over 200, the Chinese crested tern is under China's highest level of national protection. Its rarity and elusive nature have earned it the nickname "the mythical bird" in the country.

The species breeds mainly on uninhabited islands off the coasts of Zhejiang and Fujian provinces in east China. Between July and September, some birds stop in Nantong's coastal wetlands to rest and feed during their seasonal migration.

The repeated sightings underline the role of Nantong's wetlands as a stopover site for rare migratory birds, as Jiangsu continues efforts to restore wetland habitats.

Rare Chinese crested terns return to east China wetland for seventh year