From January 26 to 30, 2026, the 2nd Plenary Session of the Telecommunication Standardization Advisory Group (TSAG) for the 2025–2028 study period of the ITU Telecommunication Standardization Sector (ITU-T) convened in Geneva, Switzerland.Ms. Doreen Bogdan-Martin, ITU Secretary-General; Mr. Seizo Onoe, Director of the Telecommunication Standardization Bureau; Mr. Mario Maniewicz, Director of the Radiocommunication Bureau; and Mr. Cosmas Zavazava, Director of the Telecommunication Development Bureau, attended the session and delivered opening remarks. Nearly 300 representatives from 58 Member States, 25 enterprises and public institutions, 4 academic institutions, and 9 other international and regional organizations took part in the meeting.
The plenary examined 186 meeting documents and 30 proposals, including the work reports of all ITU-T Study Groups submitted since the previous plenary session. It finalized the revised version of Recommendation A.1 Methods of Work for the Telecommunication Standardization Sector, the newly adopted Recommendation A.19 Appointment and Operation of Registration Authorities, as well as the revised Supplement 4 to ITU-T A-series Recommendations Guidelines for Remote Participation. The session clarified arrangements to further streamline coordination mechanisms and boost work efficiency, and resolved to continue optimizing the draft strategic plan and advance preparations for the 2026 AI for Good Global Summit.
Liu Rui, Chief Expert of International Cooperation at the China Academy of Information and Communications Technology (CAICT), led the Chinese Delegation to the meeting. Attending on-site were Yu Bingyan, Zeng Chenxi from the Institute of Technology and Standards, Qi Shuguang from the Tel System Laboratory, Wang Yuntao from the Artificial Intelligence Research Institute, together with experts from the Permanent Mission of the People’s Republic of China in Geneva, China Communications Standards Association (CCSA), China Telecom, China Mobile, Huawei, ZTE and other entities. A number of representatives from enterprises and public institutions participated online.
The Chinese Delegation put forward pragmatic suggestions on the revision of Recommendation A.1, the formulation of A.19, and optimization of remote participation rules to safeguard the development interests of China’s industry. It also proposed launching the Next-Generation Youth Leadership Award, which received positive feedback from representatives of many countries. Adhering to the principle of multilateral cooperation based on technical consensus, the Chinese Delegation promoted broader consensus among all parties on the inclusiveness and operability of the standard-setting process. It also facilitated substantive progress in the establishment of the Focus Group on Embodied Intelligence, laying a solid foundation for Chinese industries to participate in and lead international standardization in the embodied intelligence field, and building a new platform for industrial international cooperation.
The TSAG Plenary serves as the interim decision-making body of the World Telecommunication Standardization Assembly (WTSA), the highest decision-making authority of ITU-T during its recess. It coordinates the work programmes of various Study Groups, reviews cross-cutting issues, and improves standard development procedures, acting as a pivotal session that shapes the rule system, technical roadmap and governance framework of ITU-T.
Under the guidance of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, CAICT strives to enhance China’s influence on international standards in the information and communications technology sector. It engages in in-depth participation in ITU-T rule-making and technical standard coordination, actively promotes global ICT connectivity and interoperability, and advances international standards in cutting-edge fields such as artificial intelligence and quantum information. CAICT also builds an international cooperation bridge for the global outreach of integrated technologies, standards and industries, contributing to the improvement of global digital governance rules and the high-quality development of the global information and communications industry.
Source: Secretariat of the ITU Working Committee, T Office
