Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Kazakhstan's President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev in Shanghai, where the World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) is taking place, to propose cooperation in artificial intelligence (AI) and the digital economy.
According to Yonhap News on July 16, Xi held talks with Tokayev at the Shanghai Xijiao Hotel during the '2026 WAIC and AI Global Governance High-Level Meeting.'
Xi stated, "China is willing to share its digital economy and AI technologies to support Kazakhstan's digital transformation."
He also emphasized the need to improve trade structures and expand cross-border e-commerce and service trade. Xi proposed increasing direct flight routes and enhancing cooperation in energy, minerals, education, science and technology, healthcare, sports, and media.
In response, Tokayev expressed his expectations for expanded cooperation in trade, investment, transportation, energy, agriculture, and the digital economy. He also voiced support for Xi's proposed global initiatives and the concept of a community with a shared future for humanity, as reported by the Chinese Foreign Ministry.
China is continuing high-level diplomacy focused on AI and the digital economy with friendly nations in conjunction with the WAIC, which runs from July 17 to 20.
The WAIC, held in Shanghai since 2018, is a major AI event in China where global companies, experts, and government officials discuss the latest technologies, industry trends, and AI governance.
On the same day, Chinese Premier Li Qiang met with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.
Li pledged to support Chinese investments in Cambodia and proposed cooperation in new energy, AI, the digital economy, and advanced manufacturing. Prime Minister Manet expressed his intent to collaborate in trade, investment, infrastructure, new energy, and connectivity.
According to the organizers, this year's WAIC will feature over 3,000 products from more than 1,100 companies in an exhibition space exceeding 100,000 square meters, with about 300 of these being world premieres.
China is expanding its cooperation network based on its technologies by incorporating AI and the digital economy into its existing trade, infrastructure, and energy-focused foreign collaborations.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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