At the World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) 2026, held in Shanghai from 17 to 20 July, Dr Sebastian Hallensleben, Chair of CEN-CENELEC JTC 21 on Artificial Intelligence, participated in the International Forum on AI Standardization. His contribution reinforced European engagement with China on AI standardization.
Bringing together policymakers, industry leaders, and international experts, WAIC 2026 provided a key platform for global dialogue on AI governance and standards. In his keynote presentation, Dr Hallensleben highlighted the evolution of AI standardization in Europe from regulatory alignment towards market empowerment, emphasizing the growing role of standards in enabling competitiveness and innovation.
He underlined that, while AI governance has traditionally focused on trustworthiness, risk, and compliance, the next phase of standardization is expanding towards measurable quality, testing methodologies, and use-case-driven approaches, including the development of quality indicators for AI systems.
The participation of CEN-CENELEC JTC 21 at WAIC 2026 also provided an important opportunity to strengthen exchanges with Chinese stakeholders, including the China Electronics Standardization Institute (CESI) and SAC/SC 42. Discussions focused on enhancing mutual understanding of AI regulatory frameworks, exploring complementarities between European and Chinese approaches, and identifying potential avenues for cooperation in areas such as AI governance, testing, and standardization methodologies.
SESEC also participated in the forum, further supporting EU–China dialogue on AI standardization and facilitating deeper communication and mutual understanding between European and Chinese stakeholders.
These exchanges build on ongoing dialogue between European and Chinese standardization communities and reflect a shared interest in promoting interoperable, internationally aligned approaches to AI standardization. They also support broader efforts to foster transparency, trust, and innovation in global AI ecosystems.
CEN-CENELEC JTC 21 will continue to engage with international partners, including China, to contribute to the development of robust and globally relevant AI standards.
