Xi Jinping attends Shanghai AI conference, highlighting China’s tech push

President Xi Jinping will attend the opening ceremony of the 2026 World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) in Shanghai and deliver a keynote address, marking his first in‑person appearance at the event since its launch in 2018. The four‑day conference, held alongside a high‑level meeting on global AI governance, is expected to host more than 140 forums, 1,400 guests and 1,100 exhibitors, with over 300 new products showcased.

China’s leadership is using the conference to stress AI as a strategic driver of economic growth and international standards, positioning the technology against U.S. competition. Major Chinese firms such as Baidu will unveil a full suite of AI agents and a new “Chip‑Cloud‑Model” platform at WAIC. Analysts note that while AI investment is accelerating, its contribution to offsetting China’s broader economic slowdown remains limited, with high‑tech output still a small share of total GDP.