WEF Founder Backs China's Eight-Step Governance Proposal

Beijing, October 26: Klaus Schwab, the founder of the World Economic Forum, has welcomed China's global governance initiative and its eight proposed measures. In an exclusive interview conducted during the 2026 Global Governance Forum in Xiongan, he said the world must reconsider how global governance works as artificial intelligence grows quickly.

Schwab said the forum brings together a range of parties and gives them a chance to move shared understanding into practical collaboration. He said that is the forum's most significant contribution.

Visiting Xiongan in Hebei province for the first time, Schwab said he was struck by the city's modernization and urban development. He described it as a place with its own character, where progress and environmental responsibility are pursued together. He also noted that the city aims to run efficiently while offering residents a convenient and comfortable life.

China presented eight practical steps at the forum's opening ceremony to advance its global governance initiative. Schwab viewed this as a clear example of a major country fulfilling its responsibilities. In his opinion, the measures are helping shift the initiative from abstract ideas to genuine action.

He pointed out that discussions about reforming global governance have gone on for years, but very little progress has followed. Schwab said it is therefore important to consider what governance should look like in the future. He stated that the initiative proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping has provided a valuable starting point, though concrete plans now need to be designed and put into practice.

Schwab called the eight steps a meaningful effort to advance global governance. He also described China's proposal to create a global governance research center as a good initiative.

He backed China's approach, which emphasizes consultation, joint construction and shared benefits. Schwab said artificial intelligence is rapidly changing knowledge, the economy and human society, and that time is running short to guide this shift wisely. He urged the international community to take immediate steps to address the real risks of AI, especially the danger of losing control over it. He said a governance system must be developed that can meet the challenges of this era of intelligent technology.