Ishaq Dar to attend launch of global AI cooperation body in Shanghai

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar will visit Shanghai on July 16-17 to participate in the launch of the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organisation (WAICO), where Pakistan will formally join the initiative as a founding member.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, the Foreign Office (FO) said Dar will travel to China at the invitation of Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and will sign the WAICO agreement on behalf of Pakistan during the organisation's official signing ceremony.

During the visit, Dar will also attend the opening ceremony of the 2026 World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) and participate in the High-Level Meeting on Global AI Governance on July 17.

According to the FO, the deputy prime minister will use the conference to present Pakistan's position on international cooperation in artificial intelligence, with a particular focus on the priorities and development requirements of countries in the Global South.

The statement said Dar will emphasise the need to narrow the global AI divide by promoting equitable access to artificial intelligence technologies, strengthening capacity-building efforts and ensuring AI contributes to sustainable development and shared prosperity.

On the sidelines of the conference, Dar is scheduled to hold bilateral talks with Wang Yi and meet other participating officials to discuss issues of mutual interest.

China first announced plans for the international AI body during the 2025 World Artificial Intelligence Conference in Shanghai, where Chinese Premier Li Qiang called for stronger global governance of artificial intelligence and greater support for open-source AI development.

Pakistan formally endorsed the proposal during Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's visit to China in May this year, expressing support for Beijing's initiative to establish WAICO and describing it as a practical step towards ensuring artificial intelligence is developed for the benefit of all.

During the visit, Islamabad also pledged to work with Beijing to strengthen global AI governance and expand international cooperation in the rapidly evolving field of artificial intelligence.