U.S.-China AI Dialogue Proposed Ahead of Trump-Xi Summit

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent described his meeting with Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng as “successful” ahead of Chinese President Xi Jinping‘s visit to the U.S. this week. The talks focused on artificial intelligence and trade, setting the stage for the Trump-Xi summit on September 24 in Washington, D.C.

AI Dialogue and Transparency

Bessent, alongside U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, proposed a “U.S.-China AI Dialogue” to establish a notification mechanism for AI incidents that could escalate to a national security level. “Moving from opaque to more transparency between the number one and the number two AI powers in the world is very important,” Bessent said.

This initiative comes amid growing concerns in Washington over AI safety and its implications for national security. The Trump administration has favored voluntary safeguards and national-security-focused measures over broad mandatory rules for AI developers. The issue is expected to be a key topic during the Trump-Xi summit.

Trade Negotiations and Economic Dialogue

Greer highlighted the operationalization of the U.S.-China Board of Trade, aimed at facilitating trade negotiations by identifying a “critical mass of goods” that could be treated separately in future trade measures. These goods could include consumer goods and low-tech items from China, as well as energy products, agricultural goods, and medical devices from the U.S.

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The meeting precedes Xi’s high-stakes visit to Washington, his first during Trump’s second term. The summit is expected to address economic issues, including trade and tariffs. A key component of the current U.S.-China trade truce, the suspension of heightened reciprocal tariffs on Chinese imports, is set to expire on November 10.

The truce also involves Chinese commitments on rare-earth exports and U.S. agricultural purchases, while the Trump administration reduced some tariffs and suspended higher reciprocal tariffs on Chinese goods. CNBC reported that top executives, including JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon and Citigroup chief Jane Fraser, are expected to attend a state dinner during Xi’s visit. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and Nvidia chief Jensen Huang are also slated to attend.

The summit reflects ongoing competition between the world’s largest economies, with both sides seeking to balance cooperation and rivalry in critical areas like AI and trade.