Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has arrived in Shanghai to sign Pakistan's founding membership in the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organisation (WAICO), a China-led initiative for AI governance.

The visit includes participation in the World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) 2026, where Dar will engage with global leaders to advance international AI cooperation.

The agreement marks Pakistan's commitment to equitable AI development, emphasizing bridging the global AI divide and promoting inclusive governance.China proposed WAICO last year, and the organization aims to foster open-source AI development and address global inequalities.The event coincides with geopolitical tensions between the U.S.and China over AI governance, with Beijing promoting its open-source models as a public good.

Dar's visit underscores Pakistan's alignment with China's vision for AI cooperation, despite concerns about the nation's readiness for AI advancements.The conference also highlights China's efforts to develop domestic AI ecosystems without reliance on U.S.technology, as seen in Huawei's new AI computing systems.This development reflects broader global competition in shaping AI governance frameworks.