Shanghai, July 17 (SANA)Twenty-nine countries signed an agreement on Thursday to establish the World Organization forArtificial Intelligence Cooperation, a China-backed intergovernmental body aimed at strengthening international cooperation and global governance in artificial intelligence.

According to Reuters, representatives from 29 countries, including Russia, Belarus, Serbia, Cuba, Brazil and Venezuela, as well as 10 African and 12 Asian nations, signed the agreement as founding members.

The agreement was signed in Shanghai, which will serve as the organization’s headquarters, ahead of the annual World Artificial Intelligence Conference, where Chinese President Xi Jinping is expected to outline Beijing’s vision for shaping global AI governance.

Chinafirst proposed the creation of the organization during last year’s conference. Thursday’s signing formally established the body with its initial group of founding members.

Artificial intelligenceis widely viewed as a key driver of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, with applications ranging from automating complex tasks and analyzing vast amounts of data to supporting strategic decision-making. Governments and businesses increasingly see AI as a catalyst for economic growth and innovation across multiple sectors.