SHANGHAI, China — Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday positioned China as a global leader in artificial intelligence (AI), urging nations to reject technological protectionism, strengthen international cooperation and ensure that AI benefits all countries rather than becoming the preserve of a powerful few.

Delivering the keynote address at the opening of the 2026 World AI Conference and High-Level Meeting on Global AI Governance in Shanghai, Xi argued that the world has reached a defining moment in AI development, with the technology offering immense opportunities while posing unprecedented security, ethical and governance challenges.

“AI development should not be a solo performance by a single country, but a symphony of international cooperation,” Xi declared.