The Sultanate of Oman has signed the agreement establishing the World AI Cooperation Organization in Shanghai, becoming one of the 29 founding member states of the new international organization, which aims to strengthen international cooperation and global governance in the field of artificial intelligence.
The agreement was signed on behalf of Oman by H.E. Dr. Ali Amer Al Shidhani, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology for Communications and Information Technology and Head of the Omani Delegation participating in the signing ceremony and the World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC), which opened today, Friday, in Shanghai in the presence of Chinese President Xi Jinping and will continue from 17 to 20 July.
The Omani delegation also includes H.E. Dr. Khalifa Abdullah Al Barwani, Chief Executive Officer of the National Centre for Statistics and Information; H.E. Dr. Said Hamad Al Rubaii, Vice Chancellor of the University of Technology and Applied Sciences; and a number of officials specializing in artificial intelligence.
H.E. Dr. Ali Amer Al Shidhani stated that Oman’s participation in establishing the World AI Cooperation Organization and in the World Artificial Intelligence Conference, following its participation last week in the First World AI Governance Dialogue under the auspices of the United Nations, reflects the Sultanate’s active engagement in adopting artificial intelligence through broad openness to the rapid global developments taking place across Europe, Asia, and the rest of the world in AI development and governance.
He explained that Oman has consistently presented its vision at these international technology forums in both the East and the West, emphasizing cooperation with all partners to build a global AI governance framework that guides the development and advancement of artificial intelligence in a manner that takes into account the interests of all countries while promoting international cooperation for the benefit of the global community. This approach seeks to strike a balance between technological innovation and responsible governance.
H.E. Dr. Al Shidhani noted that the World AI Cooperation Organization, headquartered in Shanghai, will operate as an independent intergovernmental international organization dedicated to strengthening international cooperation to ensure that artificial intelligence is safer and more beneficial for humanity, while also helping bridge the AI gap among countries.
He added that Oman’s membership in the organization will enhance the Sultanate’s capabilities in developing and deploying artificial intelligence, enable it to benefit from the experiences of member states in AI governance, and provide access to the latest AI technologies and research. It will also position Oman as an active contributor to the development of international AI governance frameworks, supporting the sustainable, secure, and beneficial advancement of this transformative technology for all.
