Pakistan joins China-backed global AI body as founding member

• Dar signs WAICO founding agreement in Shanghai, reaffirming Pakistan's commitment to inclusive global AI governance

• Pledges to help bridge AI divide, champion equitable access to emerging technologies for Global South

• Dar, Wang Yi reaffirm all-weather partnership, expand cooperation under CPEC 2.0, digital economy and artificial intelligence

• China unveils AI leadership vision at WAIC as Beijing pushes global governance role and homegrown alternatives to US technology

 SHANGHAI: Pakistan on Thursday became a founding member of the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organisation (WAICO) after Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar signed the agreement establishing the China-backed global AI forum in Shanghai, reaffirming Islamabad's commitment to promoting inclusive international cooperation and equitable access to artificial intelligence, particularly for the Global South.

"Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar signed the agreement on the establishment of the WAICO on behalf of Pakistan at the signing ceremony held today in Shanghai, China," the Foreign Office (FO) said in a post on X.

Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar @MIshaqDar50 signed the Agreement on the Establishment of the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization (WAICO) on behalf of Pakistan at the signing ceremony held today in Shanghai, China.

As a… pic.twitter.com/F8InDUYvTf

— Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) July 16, 2026

The FO said Pakistan, as a founding member of WAICO, had reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening international cooperation in the field of artificial intelligence, particularly from the perspective of developing countries.

"Pakistan looks forward to working closely with fellow WAICO member states in efforts to help bridge the global AI divide and to promote equitable access to AI to advance development for all," it added.

Earlier in the day, Dar arrived in Shanghai to sign the agreement on Pakistan's behalf. China had first proposed the establishment of WAICO last year as part of its initiative to promote international cooperation on AI governance.

In an earlier statement, the FO said Dar would also participate in the World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) 2026, where he would engage with world leaders and policymakers to advance international AI cooperation and promote inclusive and equitable AI governance.

During the visit, the deputy prime minister is also scheduled to hold a bilateral meeting with his Chinese counterpart, along with separate meetings with senior officials to discuss matters of mutual interest.

 Meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister

On the sidelines of the World Artificial Intelligence Conference, Dar held a bilateral meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, during which the two leaders reviewed the full spectrum of Pakistan-China relations and reaffirmed their shared commitment to further strengthening the All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership, the FO said.

Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar @MishaqDar50 held a bilateral meeting with H.E. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Shanghai on the margins of WAIC.

The Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister was accompanied by Ms. Shaza Fatima Khawaja @ShazaFK,… pic.twitter.com/5rbIoEkEBu

— Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) July 16, 2026

According to the Foreign Office, the two sides underscored the importance of advancing high-quality development under CPEC 2.0 while expanding cooperation in trade, investment, science and technology, the digital economy and artificial intelligence.

The ministers also exchanged views on the latest regional and global developments and reaffirmed their resolve to maintain close coordination on issues of mutual interest.

The FO said the meeting further reinforced Pakistan-China strategic cooperation and reflected the two countries' shared commitment to innovation-driven development and emerging technologies.

 Dar arrives in Shanghai

Earlier, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar arrived in Shanghai on a two-day visit to formally join WAICO as a founding member, according to the Foreign Office.

Upon his arrival, Dar was received by Shanghai Vice Mayor Wu Wei, Pakistan's Charge d'Affaires to China Aizaz Khan, and Pakistan's Consul General in Shanghai Shahzad Ahmad Khan, the FO said in another post on X.

Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar @MIshaqDar50, along with the delegation, has arrived in Shanghai, China, for an official visit from 16-17 July 2026.

During his visit, he will attend the signing ceremony for the Agreement on the Establishment of… pic.twitter.com/sTxjlOTDYX

— Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) July 16, 2026

Besides attending the WAICO signing ceremony, Dar is participating in the World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) 2026, where he is engaging with international leaders to promote cooperation on artificial intelligence and support inclusive, equitable global AI governance.

Last July, while inaugurating WAIC in Shanghai, Chinese Premier Li Qiang stressed the importance of global AI governance and open-source development, announcing Beijing's proposal to establish a Chinese-led international organisation for AI cooperation.

During Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's four-day visit to China in May this year, Pakistan formally endorsed China's initiative to establish WAICO, describing it as "a concrete step toward promoting the development of artificial intelligence for good and for all."

Islamabad also pledged to work closely with Beijing to advance global AI governance and strengthen international cooperation in the rapidly evolving technology sector.

 Beijing's push for AI leadership

Chinese President Xi Jinping is expected to unveil an ambitious vision for China's role in global AI governance at WAIC on Friday, as technology giant Huawei showcases its most advanced artificial intelligence computing cluster, underscoring Beijing's efforts to develop domestic alternatives to advanced US technology.

Xi's participation in WAIC for the first time reflects China's view of artificial intelligence as both a key engine of economic growth and a strategic technology in global competition.

Huawei's Atlas 950 SuperPoD large-scale AI computing system is set to make its public debut during the conference, marking one of China's most significant demonstrations of its ability to build advanced AI infrastructure without relying on Nvidia's most sophisticated chips.

Designed for large-scale AI training and inference, the system integrates thousands of Huawei's Ascend AI processors through high-speed interconnects, enabling them to function as a unified computing cluster.

Grateful to H. E. Xi Jinping, President of the People’s Republic of China, for hosting tonight a sumptuous banquet for the guests, including Pakistan delegation, attending the 2026 World AI Conference & High-Level Meeting on Global AI Governance. pic.twitter.com/po6pec4Fq0

— Ishaq Dar (@MIshaqDar50) July 16, 2026

Chinese AI company DeepSeek's latest V4 model has also been adapted to run entirely on Huawei's Ascend chip clusters, highlighting the progress Chinese firms have made in developing AI ecosystems independent of US technology.

Domestic media reported that Chinese chipmakers, including Biren and MetaX, are also expected to unveil new "supernode" AI computing clusters during the conference.

The gathering comes as Washington and Beijing prepare for their first government-level AI talks under US President Donald Trump, elevating WAIC from a technology exhibition into an early test of how China intends to shape the future global governance of artificial intelligence.

The two powers presented competing visions for AI governance during a United Nations dialogue last week, with Washington arguing that excessive regulation could hinder technological innovation, while Beijing promoted its low-cost, open-source AI models as a public good capable of reducing global inequality in access to AI technologies.

"Against this backdrop, WAIC has become more than a technology showcase; it is now a geopolitical stage where Beijing seeks to articulate its vision of AI as both a national priority and a diplomatic instrument," wrote George Chen, chair of digital practice at the Asia Group.

The conference coincides with a High-Level Meeting on Global AI Governance in Shanghai, where progress on WAICO and the implementation of China's Global AI Governance Initiative is expected to be announced.

Beijing is also expected to promote its open-source AI models as a lower-cost alternative to Western technologies, arguing that they can broaden global access to artificial intelligence.

"The development of AI must never move toward a technological monopoly that walls itself in, but should always be anchored to the fundamental goal of serving humanity," a commentary published this week by the People's Daily said.

The conference has drawn prominent international participants, including UN Secretary-General António Guterres, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, and Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul.

Nine Turing Award and Nobel Prize laureates, including deep learning pioneers Yoshua Bengio and Richard Sutton, are also attending, although participation from major US technology companies remains limited.

Other product launches expected during the forum include AI-powered smartphones developed jointly by ZTE-owned Nubia and AI startup StepFun, according to Chinese media.