Delegate in the House of Peoples of the PABiH, Safet Softić, Participates in the World Artificial Intelligence Conference

Delegate in the House of Peoples of the Parliamentary Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina (PABiH) and Chair of the Committee on Foreign and Trade Policy, Customs, Transport and Communications of the House of Peoples, Safet Softić, participated in the World AI Conference 2026 and the High-Level Forum on Global AI Governance, held in Shanghai, People's Republic of China.

Under this year's theme, "AI Partnership for a Brighter Future," the Conference gathered more than 1,400 participants from over 100 countries and international organisations, featuring a programme of more than 140 forums and side events dedicated to the development and governance of artificial intelligence.

The Conference was opened by the President of the People's Republic of China, Xi Jinping, who delivered introductory remarks focused on international cooperation and global AI governance. The participants were also addressed by, among others, the United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres; academician Richard Sutton; and the 2025 Nobel Laureate in Chemistry, Omar M. Yaghi.

During the High-Level Forum on Global AI Governance, held on 18 July, Safet Softić addressed the gathering on behalf of Bosnia and Herzegovina. In his speech, he emphasized that the development of artificial intelligence is transforming everyday life faster than the international community can ensure the equal participation of all states in shaping the rules that will govern its future.

He highlighted that Bosnia and Herzegovina firmly believes smaller states must also have a seat at the table when decisions regarding the future of AI are being made. They should not remain passive consumers of new technologies, but rather active participants in creating international standards and regulatory frameworks.

Softić stressed that artificial intelligence is already driving significant changes in healthcare, education, the economy, and public administration, making it particularly vital for its development to be grounded in the principles of accountability, transparency, and the protection of human rights. He also pointed to the importance of integrating Bosnia and Herzegovina into global AI governance processes to ensure that its history, culture, languages, and societal specificities are adequately represented in the development of new technologies, while simultaneously preventing potential misuse.

Speaking on bilateral relations between Bosnia and Herzegovina and the People's Republic of China, Softić noted that alongside the continuous growth of economic ties, artificial intelligence represents a new domain with substantial potential for enhancing cooperation between the two countries, particularly in innovation, science, education, and technological development.

The participation of Bosnia and Herzegovina in one of the world's premier gatherings dedicated to artificial intelligence provided an opportunity for our country to engage in contemporary international discussions on technologies that will increasingly influence the social, economic, and political development of states worldwide in the coming years. (end)