Shanghai (TDI): Pakistan on Thursday officially joined the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization (WAICO) as a founding member, reaffirming its commitment to strengthening international cooperation in artificial intelligence and emerging technologies.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar signed the agreement establishing WAICO during a ceremony in Shanghai, the Foreign Office (FO) said in a statement.
According to the FO, Pakistan’s founding membership reflects its commitment to promoting global collaboration on artificial intelligence and ensuring that developing countries play a meaningful role in shaping the future of AI governance.
The statement said Pakistan would actively advocate for the interests of the Global South and work with other member states to bridge the global AI divide by promoting equitable access to emerging technologies, innovation and capacity-building.
It added that enhanced international cooperation in artificial intelligence could help accelerate sustainable development and ensure the broader sharing of technological benefits across countries.
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The signing ceremony took place on the sidelines of the World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) 2026, where Chinese President Xi Jinping is expected to outline Beijing’s vision for global AI governance.
The conference comes as China and the United States prepare for their first government-level talks on artificial intelligence under President Donald Trump’s administration, amid growing competition over global AI standards and governance.
On the sidelines of the conference, Dar also met Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, with the two sides reaffirming their commitment to further strengthening the Pakistan-China All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership.
According to the Foreign Office, the two leaders reviewed the full spectrum of bilateral relations and agreed to advance high-quality development under CPEC 2.0.
They also discussed expanding cooperation in trade, investment, science and technology, the digital economy and artificial intelligence, while exchanging views on regional and international developments.
The FO said both sides reaffirmed their commitment to maintaining close coordination on issues of mutual interest and strengthening cooperation in emerging technologies.
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Dar was accompanied during the meeting by Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunications Shaza Fatima Khawaja, Punjab Chief Minister’s Adviser on Artificial Intelligence Ali Mustafa Dar, Pakistan Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (PVARA) Chairman Bilal Bin Saqib, Additional Secretary (Asia Pacific) Dr Syed Asad Ali Gillani, and Pakistan’s Charge d’Affaires in Beijing Aizaz Khan.
