# Xi Jinping to attend World AI Conference for first time as China elevates tech push > Source: > Published: 2026-07-13 12:00:25+00:00 # Xi Jinping to attend World AI Conference for first time as China elevates tech push Chinese leader will deliver a keynote address at the Shanghai conference, underscoring Beijing’s focus on AI development [Howard Liu](/author/howard-liu)in Beijing [2026 World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC)](https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3359733/huaweis-new-computing-cluster-worlds-first-ai-agent-phone-debut-china-ai-summit?module=inline&pgtype=article)in Shanghai and deliver a keynote address, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on Monday. The Chinese leader’s attendance will mark his first in-person appearance at the annual event since it was launched in 2018, signalling the growing priority Beijing places on AI to drive economic growth, technological competitiveness and global rule-setting. [Premier Li Qiang](https://www.scmp.com/topics/li-qiang?module=inline&pgtype=article)attended the opening ceremonies in both 2024 and 2025. The four-day conference, held alongside a high-level meeting on global AI governance, is scheduled to begin on Friday. Organisers said this year’s edition would feature more than 140 forums, 1,400 guests and 1,100 exhibitors, with more than 300 products set to make their global debuts. During a visit to a Shanghai start-up incubator in 2025, Xi said AI was entering a period of “explosive development” and urged the city to take the lead in both its development and governance. [government work report](https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3345503/takeaways-chinese-premier-li-qiangs-government-work-report?module=inline&pgtype=article)for 2026 also called for building a “new form of intelligent economy”, expanding the country’s “AI+” campaign, accelerating the commercial adoption of AI and strengthening governance of the technology.