Bangladesh is set to join the China-led World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization (WAICO), initially as an observer.
The foreign ministry said in a statement posted on Facebook on Saturday that the body's aims include:
- Deepening international cooperation on innovation
- Narrowing the global digital divide to promote inclusive development
- Championing an open, fair and non-discriminatory environment for global AI advancement
- Pushing forward AI regulations to keep the emerging technology safe and beneficial for humanity
Headquartered in Shanghai, China's foremost commercial hub, the inter-governmental body was founded on Jul 16, unveiled by Beijing at a high-level session of the World AI Conference with 29 founding members.
Alongside China, early members span the Global South, including Russia, Pakistan, Indonesia, Brazil, Malaysia, South Africa and Senegal.
At the conference, Chinese President Xi Jinping urged nations to cooperate on developing and deploying artificial intelligence, warning without naming the United States that no "single country" should be permitted to monopolise the technology.
"The development of AI should not be the exclusive domain of any one nation, but rather a symphony of international cooperation," Xi said.
The disclosure came two days after Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman, fielding questions in Dhaka on Thursday about American unease over Bangladesh's use of Chinese technology, brought up the widening global rift between Washington and Beijing over AI, following talks with US President Donald Trump's Special Envoy Sergio Gor.
He had also referenced the newly formed bloc during that exchange.
Asked if Chinese AI technology had come up in his discussion with Gor, Khalilur said: "Look at it this way — this is a process unfolding before us: two rival systems are taking shape, and the world is splintering into two blocs."
"This is an evolving technology, and there's a great deal we still don't grasp. What I do understand is that it will underpin our civilisation going forward.”
“Nothing about it is settled yet. Take this new body, the World AI Cooperation Organization -- the US is still weighing it up. We don't yet know their full stance," he added.