UN chief arrives in Shanghai for AI conference PHOTO

UN Secretary-General António Guterres has arrived in Shanghai ahead of the World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC), where Chinese President Xi Jinping is expected to deliver a keynote address as Beijing seeks to shape the global debate on artificial intelligence, Xinhua reports.

The conference, which runs from July 17 to 20, will also host a high-level meeting on global AI governance.

The level of representation has increased from last year. At the 2025 forum, Chinese Premier Li Qiang delivered the main address, while Guterres participated via a video message.

This year, the UN chief is attending in person, and President Xi is due to outline China's approach to AI development and proposals for strengthening international governance of the technology.

China has increasingly sought to position itself as a leading voice in global discussions on artificial intelligence, as governments around the world race to establish rules for the rapidly evolving technology.

By Aghakazim Guliyev