APEC AI High-Level Forum in Chengdu Promotes Regional Governance Frameworks

On July 24, 2026, the 2026 APEC High-Level Forum on Artificial Intelligence was held in Chengdu, Sichuan, as part of APEC Digital Week. Attended by senior officials including Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) Director Zhuang Rongwen and Sichuan Party Secretary Wang Xiaohui, the event highlighted China's proposals for AI development. Key themes included driving innovation through 'AI+' initiatives, narrowing the digital divide, establishing risk monitoring systems, and fostering collaborative regional governance standards.

The forum established a shared regional dialogue among Asia-Pacific economies to guide artificial intelligence toward safe, controllable, and inclusive growth, offering a regional perspective for global AI governance structures.

On July 24, 2026, the 2026 APEC High-Level Forum on Artificial Intelligence took place in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, serving as a core component of the 2026 APEC Digital Week. The event brought together key regional officials, including Zhuang Rongwen, Director of the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC); Wang Xiaohui, Secretary of the CPC Sichuan Provincial Committee; Chen Xu, Chair of the 2026 APEC Senior Officials' Meeting; Eduardo Pedrosa, Executive Director of the APEC Secretariat; and Cao Lijun, Secretary of the CPC Chengdu Municipal Committee. CAC Vice Director Wang Jingtao presided over the opening ceremony. In his opening speech, CAC Director Zhuang Rongwen cited Chinese President Xi Jinping’s remarks from the November 2025 APEC meeting in Gyeongju, South Korea, and the 2026 World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC). Zhuang outlined a five-point vision for regional AI collaboration: driving innovation through 'AI+' initiatives; fostering inclusive sharing to bridge the digital divide; strengthening safety baselines via legal, monitoring, early warning, and emergency response frameworks; utilizing AI for cultural digitization; and jointly constructing recognized governance frameworks and technical standards. Sichuan Party Secretary Wang Xiaohui highlighted the transformative global impact of artificial intelligence and referenced China's Global AI Governance Initiative. Wang detailed Sichuan's position as a hub for western China's AI development, noting its status as a National New Generation Artificial Intelligence Innovation and Development Pilot Zone. He emphasized that Sichuan has designated 'AI+' as the province's top innovation project, committing to deeper cooperation with APEC members across regional economic integration and standardized governance.