Xi launches global AI body in Shanghai.
Today's events
Global AI body.
Xi told the Shanghai World AI Conference that 29 countries have signed the World AI Cooperation Organization into existence, headquartered in Shanghai.1Jul 17 · Internet regulatorHalf-year growth.
Output rose 4.7% in the first half but slowed to 4.3% in the second quarter; fixed-asset investment fell 5.7%.2Jul 15 · Stats BureauConsumption plan.
The State Council approved a five-year plan to expand household spending, naming domestic demand the strategic base of economic policy.3Jul 13 · State CouncilEasy money holds.
The central bank reported 10.72 trillion yuan of new lending in the first half, with corporate borrowing costs near 3%.4Jul 15 · Central bankGrid buildout.
Power-industry planners put grid investment above 5 trillion yuan over the next five years, more than 80% above the previous plan.5Jul 17 · Energy agencyAnti-involution drive.
The market regulator pledged deeper enforcement against ruinous price competition, targeting hidden tactics like stretched payment terms and quality-cutting.6Jul 17 · Market regulatorAI agent standards.
China's internet regulator proposed a global initiative for AI agents to identify, connect and work with one another across platforms.7Jul 17 · Internet regulatorElection-meddling denial.
The foreign ministry called declassified US intelligence alleging Chinese interference in American elections a fabrication, and said Beijing has never interfered.8Jul 17 · Foreign ministryParty expulsion.
A former Shanxi city Party standing-committee member was expelled from the Party and public office over bribery and misuse of state funds.9Jul 18 · Anti-corruption body
Voices
“The development of artificial intelligence should not be the solo of any single country, but a symphony of global cooperation.”
President Xi Jinping, World AI Conference, Shanghai · July 171
“The U.S. claims are pure fabrication and malicious smearing, long since proven absurd. China has never interfered in American elections and has no interest in doing so.”
Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lin Jian · July 178
“The central bank will continue an appropriately accommodative monetary policy, strengthening counter-cyclical adjustment to expand domestic demand and reinforce the economy's internal momentum.”
Deputy Governor Zou Lan, People's Bank of China · July 154
“Implementation must hold to expanding domestic demand as the strategic base point, and let consumption play its fundamental role in driving economic development.”
State Council Reply No. 66 (2026), Consumption Plan · July 133
“‘Anti-involution’ is not anti-competition. It means lawfully correcting the vicious competition that breaks market order and damages high-quality development.”
State Administration for Market Regulation · July 176
“The economy withstood pressure and ran within a reasonable range, with new growth drivers expanding quickly and the resilience of development continuing to show.”
National Bureau of Statistics, half-year report · July 152
Sources
- Cyberspace Administration of China, “Working Together to Build a Fair and Equitable Global AI Governance System” — keynote by President Xi Jinping at the opening of the 2026 World AI Conference and High-Level Meeting on Global AI Governance, Shanghai, July 17, 2026. cac.gov.cn/2026-07/17/…/xi-waic-keynote
- National Bureau of Statistics, “The Economy Ran Within a Reasonable Range in the First Half; New Growth Drivers Expanded Quickly,” July 15, 2026. stats.gov.cn/sj/zxfb/…/h1-2026-economy
- State Council, “Reply Concerning the 15th Five-Year Plan for Expanding Consumption” (Guo Han [2026] No. 66), July 13, 2026. gov.cn/zhengce/content/…/consumption-15th-fyp
- People's Bank of China, “State Council Information Office Press Conference on First-Half 2026 Monetary Policy Implementation and Financial Statistics,” July 15, 2026. pbc.gov.cn/goutongjiaoliu/…/h1-2026-briefing
- National Energy Administration, “Grid Investment Under the 15th Five-Year Plan to Reach More Than 5 Trillion Yuan,” July 17, 2026. nea.gov.cn/20260717/…/grid-investment-15th-fyp
- State Administration for Market Regulation, “Deepening the Rectification of ‘Involutionary’ Competition, Building a Sound Market Environment,” July 17, 2026. samr.gov.cn/xw/mtjj/…/anti-involution
- Cyberspace Administration of China, “Global Cooperation Initiative on AI Agent Trust, Interconnection and Interoperability,” July 17, 2026. cac.gov.cn/2026-07/17/…/ai-agent-initiative
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs, “Regular Press Conference Held by Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lin Jian,” July 17, 2026. mfa.gov.cn/wjdt/fyrbt/…/20260717-lin-jian
- Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, “He Xiangrong, Former Standing Committee Member and Secretary-General of the Shuozhou Municipal Party Committee, Shanxi, Expelled From the Party and Public Office,” July 18, 2026. ccdi.gov.cn/yaowenn/…/he-xiangrong-expelled