Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lin Jian's Regular Press Conference on July 20, 2026

Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lin Jian's Regular Press Conference on July 20, 2026

Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the People's Republic of China

Updated: July 20, 2026 20:09

On July 22, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Foreign Minister Wang Yi will attend the China-ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Manila, the Philippines. From July 23 to 25, Foreign Minister Wang Yi will travel to Cholpon-Ata, Kyrgyzstan, to attend the Meeting of the Council of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Member States and visit Kyrgyzstan.

The Paper: The recently-concluded 2026 World AI Conference and High-Level Meeting on Global AI Governance has continued to draw global attention as a new platform for global AI exchanges. Many believe that China, with its open innovation philosophy and open-source AI ecosystem, is breaking Western technological monopoly and enabling more countries to boost capacity building. Would you like to comment on this? Do you have further information to share about the outcomes and highlights of this event?

Lin Jian: The 2026 World AI Conference and High-Level Meeting on Global AI Governance (WAIC 2026), held from July 17 to 20 in Shanghai, was a great success. President Xi Jinping attended the opening ceremony and delivered a keynote speech. Official representatives, business leaders, scholars and researchers from more than 100 countries and international organizations gathered in Shanghai for discussions on how to promote global AI development for good and for all, delivering a host of important outcomes.

First, the conference sets a clear direction for AI global governance. As AI technologies evolve at a faster pace, bringing with it immense opportunities as well as risks, global AI governance has come to a critical juncture. President Xi elaborated on China's vision of building a just and equitable system for global AI governance from the four perspectives of development, security, civilizations and governance, throwing light on the future of AI development and governance. His propositions have been well received in the international community and bear historical significance as well as practical relevance.

Second, the conference helps bridge the global AI divide. Global AI development remains uneven with a yawning gap between the North and the South. President Xi announced three major practical measures to support AI development and advance capacity building around the world, especially in the Global South. This will surely give a strong boost to inclusive AI development for all.

Third, the conference marks major progress in establishing the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization (WAICO). The Signing Ceremony of the Agreement on the Establishment of WAICO was held during the conference. Twenty nine countries from Asia, Africa, Latin America and Europe signed the agreement at the event as founding members. The major progress in establishing the organization, an initiative championed by China, has significantly enhanced the representation and voice of the Global South in global AI governance and makes this conference a milestone in the history of AI development.

Fourth, the conference pools together broad consensus on global AI governance. Representatives from around 80 countries and international organizations have participated in the High-Level Meeting on Global AI Governance and had an in-depth exchange of views on AI development and governance. As the host, China, on the basis of extensive consultations and after summing up important views from participating parties across various sectors, released a Chair's Statement of WAIC 2026, pooling together broad international consensus.

Fifth, the conference promotes international cooperation on AI development. During the conference, more than 150 thematic forums and dozens of bilateral and multilateral exchanges and business talks were held. An AI exhibition covering more than 100,000 square meters was staged, bringing together over 1,100 Chinese and international exhibitors and showcasing over 3,000 cutting-edge exhibits. All these activities have served as a platform for supply-demand collaboration, facilitated the global flow of innovation resources, and injected new impetus into AI development.

As a responsible major country, China is always committed to providing international public goods relating to AI. China is ready to work with various parties to take a people-centered approach, develop AI for the positive and for good, and join hands to build a just and equitable system for global AI governance so as to ensure that AI truly promotes shared prosperity and benefits whole humanity.

Reuters: You have confirmed that Foreign Minister Wang Yi will be traveling to Manila for the ASEAN meetings. Rubio, the U.S. Secretary of State is also on his way to the ASEAN meetings. And he has said that he is open to meeting with Foreign Minister Wang Yi while in Manila. I'm wondering whether there are any arrangements made for a meeting between Minister Wang Yi with Rubio?

Lin Jian: As I just announced, Foreign Minister Wang Yi will attend the China-ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting. Further information will be released in due course. Please stay tuned.

CCTV: Could you share China's expectations for the upcoming China-ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting, which Foreign Minister Wang Yi is to attend, as you just announced?

Lin Jian: ASEAN is a friendly close neighbor, an important cooperation partner, and a priority in China's neighborhood diplomacy. China supports ASEAN centrality in the regional cooperation architecture and hopes to see booming East Asia cooperation contributing more to stability, development and prosperity in the region and beyond.

This year marks the beginning of China's 15th Five-Year Plan period and the fifth anniversary of the establishment of the China-ASEAN comprehensive strategic partnership. Under the strategic guidance of leaders of the two sides, China-ASEAN relations have been growing with sound momentum. At the upcoming Foreign Ministers' Meeting, we look forward to expanding consensus on development and cooperation, making new progress in jointly fostering a peaceful, safe and secure, prosperous, beautiful and amicable home, and striving to forge a closer China-ASEAN community with a shared future.

Xinhua News Agency: Can you share the agenda of the Foreign Ministers Council meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization member states? What does China hope to achieve through the meeting?

Lin Jian: The Meeting of the Council of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Member States will be held in Cholpon-Ata, Kyrgyzstan from July 23 to 24. During the meeting, Foreign Minister Wang Yi will have in-depth exchanges of views with foreign ministers of other member states on the current international and regional situation, the future development of the SCO, cooperation in various fields, and other issues of mutual interest, and make full preparations for the SCO Summit to be held in Bishkek later this year.

This year marks the 25th anniversary of the SCO. Over the past 25 years, SCO member states have followed the fundamental guidance of the Shanghai Spirit, practiced true multilateralism, deepened cooperation in the political area, security, economy, culture and people-to-people exchange, set an example of a new type of international relations, and demonstrated how we can work together to build a community with a shared future for humanity. In September 2025, President Xi Jinping chaired the SCO Tianjin Summit, during which he reached important common understandings with participating leaders on deepening cooperation in various fields, improving the SCO mechanism, and building a more just and equitable global governance system, leading the SCO into a new stage of high-quality development featuring greater solidarity, coordination, dynamism and productiveness.