The World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) 2026 was held in Shanghai from 17–20 July and brought global attention to the rapid development of artificial intelligence (AI), as well as the increasingly important question of who gets to shape the rules governing it. The conference brought together leaders from across the world, with Sri Lanka represented by Deputy Minister of Digital Economy Eng. Eranga Weeraratne.
At the opening address, Chinese President Xi Jinping highlighted the need for a more just and equitable system of global AI governance, emphasising openness, international cooperation, inclusiveness, and the importance of ensuring the safe and secure development of AI.
Speaking at a diplomatic-level forum under the theme “AI Partnership for a Brighter Future,” Deputy Minister of Digital Economy Eng. Eranga Weeraratne stated that developing countries should have an equal voice in shaping global AI governance and that Global South countries should not be expected simply to adopt rules developed elsewhere, but should actively participate in shaping those rules from the outset.
Below is a table analysing the alignment between Chinese President Xi Jinping’s speech and Sri Lanka’s Deputy Minister’s speech across key themes.
| Theme | China’s Position at WAIC 2026 Based on President Xi Jinping’s Speech | Sri Lanka’s Position at WAIC 2026 Based on the Deputy Minister’s Speech |
| Inclusive global AI governance | Called for a “just and equitable” system of global AI governance and greater coordination on AI strategies, rules, and technical standards. | Called for developing countries to have an equal voice in shaping global AI governance and not remain on the sidelines as AI rules are developed. |
| Role of the Global South | Called for international cooperation to build the capacity of Global South countries, bridge AI and digital divides, and avoid creating new forms of inequality. | Emphasised that Global South countries such as Sri Lanka need a seat at the table where AI rules are written and should participate in shaping them, rather than simply being asked to follow rules once decisions have been made. |
| International cooperation | Stressed that AI development should not be a “solo performance” by one country, but a product of international cooperation. China also highlighted the establishment of WAICO as a platform for international AI cooperation. | Highlighted international partnerships, knowledge exchange, and cooperation as important to strengthening Sri Lanka’s AI and digital capabilities. |
| AI safety and security | Emphasised safety and security in AI development. With a deep understanding of the trends and logic of AI development, China highlighted the need to continuously improve laws, regulations, policies, mechanisms, application norms and ethical principles to ensure that AI is safe, secure and controllable. | The Deputy Minister also emphasised that, for global AI safety regulations to be truly meaningful, developing countries must be provided with the technical capacity required to implement them. He concluded by stating that the ultimate success of any AI system should be measured not only by technological advancement, but also by the extent to which it improves the lives of ordinary people. |
| Towards multilateral governance | Called for greater alignment on AI development strategies, governance rules and technical standards, while recognising the role of the UN. | He further stressed that AI can only become a true global partnership if its governing principles are co-created through collaboration. This introduces an additional emphasis that was not as explicit in Xi Jinping’s speech, which focused more strongly on openness and international cooperation. |
This highlights the alignment between China’s call for a more inclusive global AI governance architecture and Sri Lanka’s growing advocacy for greater participation of developing countries in AI rulemaking. However, the Deputy Minister also emphasised the need for each country to retain sovereignty over its own data and digital infrastructure, while ensuring interoperability with AI systems worldwide.
Written by Sachini Ranasinghe (Senior Researcher, LIRNEasia)
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