The World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization (WAICO) is an intergovernmental organization focused on artificial intelligence (AI) governance and development, established in July 2026. It was first proposed by Chinese Premier Li Qiang in July 2025, with Chinese leader Xi Jinping reiterating the proposal in October 2025. The organization was created to establish a new institutional platform for global AI governance, particularly one oriented toward the Global South and a development-first agenda, contrasting with Western-led bodies like the Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence (GPAI).
The founding agreement was signed on July 16, 2026, by representatives from 29 countries in Shanghai, where the organization is headquartered. WAICO is structured as an independent international organization guided by United Nations Charter principles, with a stated mission to promote "beneficial, safe, and fair" AI development. Its mechanism is designed around a development-first agenda, focusing on widening access to AI, building capacity in member states, and closing the "global intelligence gap". Key principles include openness and win-win cooperation, risk awareness, inclusivity, and solidarity in global governance. The organization is open to any sovereign state, without a values or regime-type test for entry, which distinguishes it from bodies like the OECD and GPAI, which concentrate on rights and safety and gate membership by shared democratic values. WAICO is viewed as a strategic counter-proposal to Western-dominated AI governance frameworks and is seen as rivalling initiatives like the US-led Pax Silica. Founding members include countries like Russia, Brazil, Indonesia, Pakistan, and South Africa, while the United States, European Union member states, and India are not participating.