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China's new World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization is President Xi's clearest play yet for a parallel AI order

At the World AI Conference in Shanghai, President Xi Jinping announced 5,000 AI training slots for Global South countries and the launch of the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization. Cooperation centers with ASEAN, the African Union, BRICS, and other alliances are planned to follow, marking China's most explicit effort to build a parallel AI governance structure outside Western influence.

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China's Parallel AI Order: The Founding of WIKO and the Global Governance Game

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29 nations establish the World Intelligence Cooperation Organization (WIKO) in Shanghai, as China attempts to build an AI governance framework independent of the West, offering 5,000 training slots and a 'smart economy' worth trillions of yuan.

  • 29 nations establish the World Intelligence Cooperation Organization (WIKO) in Shanghai, with no Western countries joining.
  • Xi Jinping announces 5,000 AI training slots for Global South nations over five years.
  • China's 'smart economy' is valued at over 1 trillion yuan (approximately $140 billion).
  • Xi calls for AI to remain under human control and criticizes excessive AI restrictions under the guise of national security.
  • WIKO is headquartered in Shanghai, first proposed in 2025, with founding members including Russia, Brazil, South Africa, Pakistan, and Indonesia.
  • Plans to establish cooperation centers with ASEAN, the African Union, BRICS, and others.
Open section navigationFounding and Membership of WIKO

Founding and Membership of WIKO

In July 2026, 29 nations formally established the 'World Intelligence Cooperation Organization' (WIKO) in Shanghai, with its headquarters located there. The organization was first proposed in 2025, and its founding members include Russia, Brazil, South Africa, Pakistan, and Indonesia, with no Western countries joining.

This move is analyzed as China's most explicit attempt to build an AI governance structure parallel to Western influence, based on regional alliances with developing countries.

China's Commitments and Stance

At the Shanghai World AI Conference, Xi Jinping announced that China would provide 5,000 AI training slots for Global South nations over the next five years. He also called for AI to always remain under human control and opposed excessive AI restrictions under the guise of national security—interpreted as a veiled criticism of U.S. export controls on AI chips and technology.

Xi noted that China's 'smart economy' (encompassing AI and other digital technologies) is currently valued at over 1 trillion yuan, approximately $140 billion.

Future Plans and Strategic Intent

After its founding, WIKO plans to establish cooperation centers with ASEAN, the African Union, BRICS, and other alliances. This further indicates China's attempt to form a system parallel to the West in AI governance through multilateral mechanisms.

Credibility boundary

This article is based on a single analytical source (THE DECODER), which interprets public events. All factual statements originate from that article, and no external knowledge has been introduced.

Insight takeaway

The founding of WIKO marks China's shift from participation to leadership in global AI governance, attracting developing countries into its framework through training and economic cooperation, competing with the Western-led AI order.

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  1. China's new World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization is President Xi's clearest play yet for a parallel AI orderTHE DECODER

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THE DECODER

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