Mozambique becomes founding member of World AI Cooperation Organization (WAICO)

Among the signatories were South Africa, Algeria, Brazil, Belarus, Kazakhstan, China, Cuba, Ethiopia, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Kenya, Russia and Venezuela, with all 29 founding member states reaffirming their commitment to strengthening international cooperation for the responsible development of artificial intelligence. Xi criticised the excessive use of the concept of national security to justify restrictions on the international circulation of technologies, arguing that such barriers deepen technological inequalities and limit the economic development of countries in the Global South. He also argued that artificial intelligence should be viewed as a collective opportunity for common development rather than as an instrument for deepening dependency relations.

On the occasion, Xi announced that China would strengthen support for developing countries in building their artificial intelligence capabilities. Among the initiatives presented are the provision of 5,000 AI training and seminar opportunities over the next five years, the establishment of international technological cooperation centres and joint initiatives with the BRICS, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the African Union (AU) and Latin American countries, as well as the provision of artificial intelligence systems applied to meteorology for around 30 countries, aimed at improving early warning systems for extreme weather events and natural disasters. The 29 WAICO founding member states are: Algeria, Belarus, Brazil, Cambodia, Cameroon, China, Congo, Cuba, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lesotho, Malaysia, Myanmar, Mozambique, Nicaragua, Oman, Pakistan, Russia, Senegal, Serbia, South Africa, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Venezuela and Zambia..