Twenty-nine countries on Thursday signed an agreement to establish the World AI Cooperation Organization, a China-backed intergovernmental body aimed at strengthening international cooperation and global governance in artificial intelligence.
Representatives from the founding members, including Pakistan, Russia, Belarus, Serbia, Cuba, Brazil, Venezuela, 10 African countries and 12 Asian countries, signed the agreement at a ceremony in Shanghai, according to China's state news agency Xinhua.
The organization will be headquartered in Shanghai and is intended to promote cooperation on the development and governance of artificial intelligence.
The signing took place on the eve of the annual World Artificial Intelligence Conference, where Chinese President Xi Jinping is expected to outline Beijing's vision for global AI governance.
China first proposed the creation of the World AI Cooperation Organization at last year's conference, but no countries had formally joined the initiative until Thursday.
Pakistan-China Partnership
Following the signing ceremony, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar in Shanghai, with both sides expressing support for deeper cooperation in artificial intelligence.
Wang said AI represented the future direction of global development and would have a profound impact on countries and society.
He said China was ready to work with like-minded nations to strengthen international cooperation and ensure artificial intelligence is developed "for good and for all."
The meeting underscored growing cooperation between Beijing and Islamabad in emerging technologies as China seeks broader international participation in its AI governance initiatives.
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