China intends to establish an international union to counter fraud in the telecommunications sector and online scams. The founding ceremony of this alliance is planned to take place in September at the Global Forum on Public Security Cooperation Conference in 2026.
The Ministry of Public Security of China announced at a press conference on Friday that it will host the founding ceremony of this union during a conference to be held in Lianyungang, Jiangsu Province, located in eastern China.
According to Jiang Guoli, head of the ministry's Criminal Investigation Bureau, this alliance will be an intergovernmental organization that will attract broad participation from law enforcement agencies worldwide. The main task of the organization is the effective fight against cross-border fraud in telecommunications and online scams.
Jiang stated that more than forty countries have already expressed their willingness to join this alliance. He emphasized that China welcomes the participation of all countries, proposing to strengthen intelligence sharing, increase the effectiveness of joint operations, activate coordinated control measures, and work together on the global fight against fraud.
Jiang noted that telecommunications fraud and online scams have become a global problem and a serious challenge for public administration. The Chinese police have made combating and preventing such crimes a priority for the next five years, noting that the vast majority of fraudulent operations are currently based outside of China. In addition to existing law enforcement mechanisms, the Chinese police will increase efforts to prevent these crimes through the created alliance.
Last Friday, Xi Jinping positioned Beijing as a defender of a new world order in the field of artificial intelligence. During a prestigious Chinese technology conference, he actively promoted open-source technologies and challenged US influence regarding the regulation of this rapidly evolving industry.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of the World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) in Shanghai, Xi called on countries to take advantage of the 'rare and historic opportunity' of open AI. He also pledged support to developing nations in advancing AI capabilities, warning against the threat of 'new historical injustices' due to unequal access to this technology.
These statements represented the clearest articulation of China's ambitions to shape global AI governance. Xi presented his open-source models as a public good for the entire world, positioning Beijing as an alternative to Washington at a critical juncture in the race for technological leadership.
Comparing the significance of AI to the invention of the steam engine and electricity, Xi outlined his vision wherein China would share AI technologies and experience with Global South nations while leading global efforts to establish standards for this new technology. His initiative with the AI coalition was presented as a competitor to the international initiative led by the US, known as 'Pax Silica,' aimed at securing global AI supply chains and critical minerals, although Xi avoided direct mention of Washington.
Xi's comments came amid the rapid progress of Chinese open-weight AI models against the proprietary systems of American companies such as OpenAI and Anthropic. On Friday, the Beijing-based startup Moonshot AI unveiled Kimi K3, which was named the largest open-source AI model by parameter count. This occurred a month after the US government abruptly withdrew advanced Anthropic AI models due to safety concerns.
Furthermore, Xi insisted that AI systems must remain under human control, urging countries to create early warning and emergency response mechanisms to manage AI risks. He also emphasized the need for measures to prevent loss-of-control scenarios, warning about the dangers of autonomous AI systems that might evade human oversight and control.
Xi stated that the China AI Cooperation Organization, established in China and adopted by 29 member states on Thursday, marks a 'milestone in the development of global AI' and meets the demands of Global South countries for more active participation in AI governance. Moreover, Xi announced that China would provide AI training and develop AI cooperation centers with BRICS, ASEAN, Latin America, and the African Union countries, thereby aligning China's diplomatic initiatives in AI with major Global South blocs where China already holds significant influence.
George Chen, Head of Digital Practice at the consulting firm The Asia Group, noted: 'Xi's message is clear: China does not intend to follow anyone, neither in AI technologies nor in standards. Instead, China intends to lead the world in both aspects.' He added that Xi's message is a statement that can also be viewed as a warning—China will not allow anyone to dictate how it uses AI.
The event, running from July 17 to 20, takes place against the backdrop of Washington and Beijing preparing for the first bilateral government-level negotiations on AI under the administration of US President Donald Trump. This transforms WAIC from an industry exhibition into an early test of how China plans to compete for influence in global AI regulatory rules. Last week, the two powers presented competing concepts during the UN AI dialogue, where US representatives argued that excessive regulation could slow innovation, while China promoted its low-cost open-source models as a tool to reduce global inequality in AI access.
Twenty-nine nations signed a pact on Thursday, the 16th, aimed at creating the World Organization for Cooperation in Artificial Intelligence. This intergovernmental entity aims to foster international collaboration and define global standards for the artificial intelligence sector.
The agreement was signed in Shanghai, China, moments before the World Artificial Intelligence Conference. At this event, Beijing plans to present its perspective on the country's role in determining technological governance guidelines.
Among the countries that adhered to the agreement are Russia, Belarus, Serbia, Cuba, Brazil, and Venezuela, along with ten African nations and twelve Asian nations. The headquarters of this new organization will be located in Shanghai, as reported by the Chinese state agency Xinhua.
The idea of creating this entity was originally presented by China during the previous edition of the World Artificial Intelligence Conference, but only now have official announcements of adherence been made by the founding members. This agreement unites governments willing to integrate a multilateral structure focused on international debate on AI, emerging at a time of rapid technological advancement and the need for mechanisms of cooperation between nations.
The formalization of the agreement took place the day before the expected participation of Chinese President Xi Jinping in the annual conference in Shanghai. According to the disclosed agenda, the Chinese leader is expected to present a more comprehensive proposal on Beijing's contribution to drafting international guidelines for artificial intelligence. With this document formalized, the World Organization for Cooperation in Artificial Intelligence has its first formal members, bringing together representatives from various regions, such as Europe, Asia, Africa, and Latin America.
