From July 17 to 20, the 2026 World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) was held in Shanghai. H.E. Prof. Gaspard Banyankimbona, the Commissioner for Education, Science, Technology and Innovation (ESTI) at the African Union Commission, attended the conference on behalf of the African Union Commission and gave an interview to China Media Group (CMG).

H.E. Prof. Gaspard Banyankimbona highly commended China's leading role in advancing global AI governance. He noted that China's people-centered approach and its commitment to bridging the global AI divide are highly consistent with the African Union's development vision, providing important support for Africa's participation in global AI governance as well as the localization of AI applications and capacity building across the continent.He expressed the African side's expectation of further deepening cooperation with China, strengthening AI talent development and scientific research exchanges, and harnessing artificial intelligence to better support Africa's economic and social development.