Chinese Premier Li Qiang has proposed establishing an international organisation to coordinate the development and governance of artificial intelligence, unveiling the initiative at the World Artificial Intelligence Conference in Shanghai on 26 July. Li told delegates that global AI oversight remains “fragmented” and warned the technology could become “an exclusive game for a few countries and companies.” The new body, whose headquarters could be located in Shanghai, would work to harmonise standards, share best practices and widen access to AI, particularly for developing nations in the Global South. Beijing simultaneously published a Global AI Governance Action Plan outlining the effort. The premier added that China is willing to share open-source technologies and products while calling for faster resolution of supply-chain bottlenecks in advanced chips that underpin AI systems. The proposal comes as Washington and Beijing vie for influence over the fast-moving technology sector amid U.S. restrictions on high-end semiconductor exports to China. WAIC 2025 runs through 28 July, drawing more than 1,000 government officials, academics and corporate leaders. Organisers say over 800 companies are exhibiting roughly 3,000 products, including 40 large language models and 60 intelligent robots, underscoring China’s ambition to cement a central role in shaping global AI rules.