China Unveils National AI Cooperation Action Plan and Global Case Studies

At the 2026 World AI Conference in Shanghai, China's National Development and Reform Commission, alongside five other state bodies, released two major AI policy deliverables. The headline initiative, the Action Plan for AI Cooperation and Development, details an eight-pillar blueprint addressing data, computing power, open-source sharing, and ethical governance. Alongside the plan, officials released the 2026 edition of "China's Intelligence, Benefiting the World," highlighting ten real-world international partnership cases aimed at bridging the global digital divide.

The joint release outlines China's official roadmap to position artificial intelligence as a global public good. By laying out actionable goals across eight critical dimensions—such as computing access, open source, and ethics—Beijing provides a structured policy reference for international digital cooperation and governance, particularly across developing economies.

At the 2026 World AI Conference and High-Level Meeting on Global AI Governance in Shanghai, China's National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) officially introduced two major outcomes aimed at expanding international artificial intelligence collaboration. The documents—released jointly with the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Science and Technology, Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, National Data Bureau, and China Media Group—lay out both a broad governance framework and concrete examples of cross-border engagement. The central pillar of the announcement is the Action Plan for AI Cooperation and Development. Framed around the principle of positioning artificial intelligence as an international public good to benefit global development, the plan establishes eight specific priority areas. These actions cover high-quality data supply, inclusive smart computing power, open-source ecosystem sharing, deep AI application, joint digital-talent cultivation, co-construction of rules and standards, collaborative security governance, and ethical AI development ("AI for good"). According to official releases, the action plan serves as a practical response to United Nations initiatives focused on enhancing international AI cooperation, narrowing the digital divide, and leveraging intelligent technologies for sustainable development goals. Alongside the framework, the NDRC released the 2026 edition of "China's Intelligence, Benefiting the World," marking the third consecutive year the agency has published the case collection. The compendium features ten selected stories illustrating China's real-world AI projects conducted with foreign partners. Compared with earlier editions, the 2026 volume encompasses a wider geographic distribution of participating nations, a broader range of "AI+" industrial application scenarios, and a heightened emphasis on human-centric technology deployment. Together, the two outcomes signal Beijing's coordinated approach toward international AI policy, combining high-level governance commitments with practical project outreach across global markets.