Seminar Held on “World AI Organization and Global South Development Opportunities”

A seminar titled “World AI Organization and Global South Development Opportunities” was held at the Myanmar Institute of Strategic and International Studies (MISIS) in Yangon on July 30. The event was jointly organized by MISIS and China Media Group (CMG).

The seminar was attended by officials from MISIS and CMG, invited guests, and members of the media. U Thant Kyaw, Chairman of MISIS, delivered the opening remarks and introduced the establishment of the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization (WAICO), providing background information for the discussion.

Following the opening session, CMG reporter Ms. Hnin Pwint Phyu shared CMG’s perspective on WAICO.

The discussion was moderated by U Htin Linn, an executive member of MISIS, who introduced the panelists and outlined the three main topics and six key questions that would guide the seminar.

The panelists included U Ko Ko Maung, Executive Member of MISIS; Dr. Naing Swe Oo, Senior Advisor; U Maung Maung Myint Thein (RIT), Researcher at the Myanmar Affairs Study Group; U Min Than Htut, Business AI Trainer; Daw Hnin Wai Si, Master Trainer and Founder of AI ASEAN and the AI Ready Enhancement Program; and Mr. Songle, Head of Bowen School, Myanmar.

Discussions focused on three major themes: “The Emergence of WAICO and the New Role of the Global South,” “AI Technology Sharing and Capacity Building,” and “The New Future of Sustainable AI Development in Myanmar.”

The event concluded with an interactive question-and-answer session between the panelists and participants.

Earlier, on July 16, 2026, representatives from 29 countries signed an agreement in Shanghai to establish the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization (WAICO). Myanmar officially joined the organization as a founding member state.

The framework is regarded as the first international artificial intelligence governance mechanism designed to address the needs of developing countries and nations of the Global South while ensuring equal participation among sovereign states.