Recently, Tshilidzi Marwala, President of the United Nations University (UNU) and UN Under-Secretary-General, led a delegation to visit the Shanghai Artificial Intelligence Research Insitute (SAIRI), where he was welcomed by Haitao Song, the President of SAIRI and Director-General of the Global Industrial Artificial Intelligence Alliance Excellence Center. The visit featured a comprehensive tour and a series of in-depth exchanges focused on promoting the sustainable development of artificial intelligence (AI) and the future of education.

The delegation visited the Institute's exhibition hall and was briefed on its major initiatives—positioning itself as a new-generation professional think tank, a platform for R&D and industrial transformation, and an innovation hub integrating finance, industry, and ecological systems. The group was also introduced to SAIRI’s strategic efforts in AI R&D, industrial applications, scenario implementation, ecosystem construction, international cooperation, and talent development.

Marwala praised the Institute's accomplishments and cutting-edge innovations. While visiting displays that featured general-purpose robotics, vertical large language models, intelligent medical devices, and virtual power plant technologies, Marwala noted that China's progress in AI application serves as important references for countries in the Global South. He further emphasized that the United Nations and Chinese institutions share common strategic priorities, particularly in areas of technological innovation and ethical governance. Marwala expressed a strong interest in future collaboration with the SAIRI under the Global Digital Compact framework. Such a partnership would bridge the digital divide and promote technology transfer and capacity-building for Global South countries.

At the conclusion of the event, Song Haitao and Marwala exchanged souvenirs as a token of gratitude.

The visit concluded with an exchange of commemorative gifts between Haitao Song and Tshilidzi Marwala as a gesture of mutual appreciation.

Professor Marwala was joined by:

· Michael Baldock, Director of the UNU President’s Office

· Jingbo Huang, Director of the UNU Macau Institute

· Qian Dai, Officer for Communication and External Relations, UNU Macau Institute

The visit also brought together a panel of experts and institutional leaders, including:

· Professor Shi Jin, Academician of the European Academy of Sciences; Dean of the Institute of Natural Sciences at SJTU; Leading Scientist at SAIRI

· Lirong Feng, Principal, Shanghai Soong Ching Ling School

· Fanjie Wei, General Manager, Shanghai Future Industry Fund

· Donghong Cui, Researcher, Shanghai Mental Health Center; Executive Director, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Severe Mental Disorders

· Professor Weidong Ji, Senior Professor of Humanities and Social Sciences, SJTU; Dean, Institute of Law and Society; Director, Japan Studies Center

· Wei Cui, Director of the Office of International Cooperation, Shanghai University

· Jiangbo Jin, Vice Chairman, Shanghai Federation of Literary and Art Circles; Executive Dean, School of Fine Arts, Shanghai University

About the Shanghai AI Research Institute

Established in 2019 by the Shanghai Municipal Government and Shanghai Jiao Tong University, SAIRI was launched during the World Artificial Intelligence Conference as a key innovation platform to support China’s national AI development strategy. As a core component of Shanghai’s science and technology innovation center, SAIRI focuses on breakthroughs in AI technologies, cutting-edge application research, industrial transformation, talent development, and ecosystem construction. Today, the Institute stands as a leading force in China's AI landscape, playing an important role in driving innovation and shaping the future of AI.