UNDP Administrator concludes visit to China as part of United Nations Delegation for 2026 World Artificial Intelligence Conference

July 18, 2026

Photo of a man in a dark suit at a podium with white flowers, blue backdrop displaying Alexander. — UNDP Administrator, Alexander De Croo, Delivering His Remarks at the 2026 World Artificial Intelligence Conference

UNDP China

Shanghai, China, 18 July – United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Administrator Alexander De Croo today concluded a three-day visit to Shanghai , as part of United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres' delegation at the 2026 World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) in Shanghai.

During the visit, the Administrator engaged with government leaders, academia, the private sector and international partners to strengthen cooperation on responsible and inclusive AI development, and joint efforts to accelerate progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

As countries around the world work to adapt and keep pace with the rapid evolution of AI technologies, WAIC has emerged as a major global platform for advancing dialogue on AI innovation, governance and international cooperation since it was launched by the Government of China in 2018.

As part of his key engagements as part of the UN Secretary-General’s delegation, De Croo participated at the WAIC 2026 Opening Ceremony, as well as the High-Level Meeting on Global AI Governance. In his remarks at the high-level meeting, he underscored the importance of strengthening international cooperation and ensuring every country has the capacity to govern AI so that it can be used safely, equitably and responsibly.

“The greatest risk is not that countries fail to adopt AI – the greatest risk is that AI arrives before institutions, before trust, before skills, and before the safeguards needed to make it work for people,” De Croo stated. “And right now, AI adoption is outpacing AI readiness to govern it well in most countries.”

Group of formally dressed officials posing on stage in front of a blue conference banner.

Photograph: two men at a tech expo booth, blue screens and devices in the background.

Photograph of professionals in suits surrounding a small robot on a table at a conference.

Male presenter in a suit at a WAIC podium on a blue stage with flowing light design.

Group of professionals at a blue trade show booth, wearing badges.

Alongside these engagements, the Administrator held bilateral meetings with GONG Zheng, Mayor of Shanghai, and YIN Hejun, China's Minister of Science and Technology, to discuss opportunities to deepen cooperation on digital transformation, AI for sustainable development, and South-South Cooperation. He also held roundtable discussions with business leaders, university presidents and leading researchers to explore new partnerships that can help ensure the benefits of AI reach all countries and communities.

While at WAIC, De Croo also delivered keynote addresses at two thematic forums. At "From Consensus to Action: Possible Pathways for Global AI Governance," hosted by Tsinghua University's Institute for AI International Governance, he called for translating global principles into practical implementation through stronger national capacities across the Global South, international collaboration, and inclusive governance.

Later, at the Future Computing & Future Computing Power Forum, organized by the University of Science and Technology of China under the theme “Building a Sustainable AI for Humanity: Future with Quantum, Space & Green Computing”, De Croo highlighted the importance of treating AI as critical development infrastructure and ensuring it is more green and affordable.

“The expansion of AI cannot come at the expense of sustainable development,” said De Croo. “This means using AI efficiently, right-sizing models to the task and drawing on smaller, frugal AI where it fits, so that capability is not bought at the cost of ever-greater energy and compute.”

The high-level visit underscored UNDP’s commitment to advancing international cooperation on AI for sustainable development, as countries seek to harness the transformative potential of this technology while managing its risks. With AI increasingly driving economic and social transformation, global dialogue and exchange will remain essential to ensuring its benefits are shared broadly and responsibly.