World AI Cooperation Organization Founded: 29 Nations Sign, HQ in Shanghai
On July 16, the agreement establishing the World AI Cooperation Organization (WAICO) was signed in Shanghai, with China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi signing on behalf of the government and representatives of 29 countries—including Kazakhstan, Laos, Pakistan, Russia, and Indonesia—becoming founding members; UN Secretary-General Guterres attended. The independent intergovernmental body, headquartered in Shanghai, aims to advance AI cooperation and global governance and bridge the 'intelligence divide'.
Bottom line
Global AI governance reached a landmark: the agreement founding the World AI Cooperation Organization (WAICO) was signed in Shanghai on July 16, with 29 countries as founding members and the organization headquartered in Shanghai. After trade, health, and climate, AI now has a dedicated intergovernmental body to carry multilateral coordination.
Who signed, who attended
- China's Politburo member and Foreign Minister Wang Yi attended and signed on behalf of the government.
- Founding-member representatives included Kazakhstan's Deputy PM and Minister for AI and Digital Development Madiyev, Laos' Deputy PM and FM Thongsavanh, Pakistan's Deputy PM and FM Dar, Russia's Deputy Chief of the Presidential Office Oreshkin, and Indonesia's Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga—29 nations in total.
- UN Secretary-General Guterres and other national and international representatives attended—UN-level presence lends the new body significant multilateral backing.
What the organization is
Per the agreement, WAICO is an independent intergovernmental organization defined by a few key ideas:
- Following the purposes of the UN Charter, with a 'consultation, joint construction, shared benefits' ethos;
- A people-centered principle;
- A goal of promoting AI cooperation and governance so AI develops in a 'beneficial, safe, fair' direction;
- Headquartered in Shanghai.
Backstory
This wasn't sudden. On July 26, 2025, China proposed establishing the organization, initially considering Shanghai as HQ. Officials framed it as 'practicing multilateralism' and 'responding to the Global South' to help bridge the digital and intelligence divide. From proposal to signed agreement took exactly a year.
Why it matters
- Contest over governance voice: AI global governance has long lacked a broadly representative dedicated body. With the Global South as a key base and HQ in Shanghai, WAICO gives China an organizational entry point into AI rule-making.
- Bridging the intelligence divide: For most developing countries, the compute, data, and talent barriers are steep. A 'shared, inclusive' body could offer them a channel to participate.
- Tight cadence: The day after signing (July 17-20), the 2026 World AI Conference and high-level governance meeting opens in Shanghai—thousands of firms, 3,000+ exhibits, 300+ new AI products debuting globally, 140+ forums, 1,400+ experts. Pairing the governance platform with the industry platform signals intent to push both together.
What to watch
- Beyond the founding 29, which nations join—and whether major Western economies participate—will define WAICO's representativeness and reach.
- The actual operating mechanism, funding, and decision rules of an 'independent intergovernmental organization' remain to be detailed. Its credibility will ultimately rest on the executable governance products it delivers (standards, evaluations, dispute coordination), not just a signed text.